High Court sets aside ex-cop’s application
The provincial NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said, "Despite that the accused had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence, the defence felt that he is not receiving a fair trial."
The application for a special entry in terms of Section 317 of Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by the representatives of murder-accused ex-cop, Mugiyo Ulrich Mabunda, was set aside by the Mpumalanga High Court on Thursday November 11.
Mabunda is facing charges of murder after allegedly shooting and killing his wife, Tebogo Mabunda, outside their home in Stonehenge in May last year.
The application was set aside by the acting judge, Cassim Moosa. The defence made this special entry application on November 2.
The provincial NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said, “Despite that the accused had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence, the defence felt that he is not receiving a fair trial.”
This followed after Ulrich had not shown up in court on October 11. His family presented Moosa with a medical certificate that day.
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He postponed the trial to October 13. Moosa said if the accused failed to appear on that set date, a warrant of arrest would be issued and his bail would be revoked. On October 13, the court ordered the investigating officer to take Ulrich to Rob Ferreira Hospital to have him examined and to return with a medical report.
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During his court appearance on November 11, Tebogo’s friends and family celebrated her heavenly birthday outside the High Court by lighting candles and placing flowers in her memory on its gate. Nyuswa said the case was postponed to Friday November 19.
