The trial of the Pinetown man accused of stabbing and decapitating his grandmother is expected to continue at the Durban High Court today, after it was adjourned on Friday to allow the accused to seek medical attention after he complained of being sick.

According to Highway Mail, the presiding officer, acting Judge Mpumelelo Sibisi, told the accused, Thabo Ntokozo Theodore Nzimande (32), that the court had been informed by senior state Advocate Nadira Moosa that arrangements had been made for him to see a doctor at Westville Prison.

Nzimande, who is in the dock for the murder of his grandmother, Beata Beatrice de Lange (80), told the court he had ‘stomach issues’ which had troubled him since Thursday, but had wanted to push through the trial so that it could be adjourned on Friday for him to go to hospital.

Aunt to take the stand

Nzimande’s aunt, Ziningi Myaka, is expected to take the witness stand when the matter resumes.

This follows Nzimande’s legal representative, Emmanuel Chiliza, unsuccessfully trying to object to a portion of Myaka’s testimony, which he said ‘goes to the heart of the defence’ and ‘will be severely prejudicial’ to his client.

Acting Judge Sibisi provisionally allowed Myaka’s testimony, which Moosa said included words allegedly uttered by De Lange on the morning of May 25, 2024, ahead of a family session at a rehabilitation centre that De Lange was scheduled to accompany Nzimande to, but eventually did not attend due to what she told Myaka.

Social worker and family testimonies

The court has heard from a social worker at the rehabilitation centre, Jaishiela Kooverjee, that De Lange had accompanied Nzimande to all the family workshops at the facility except the last one on May 25, 2024, just days before her murder on June 7, 2024.

The defence has argued that the state is trying to suggest there were problems between De Lange and Nzimande.

The court also heard from Nzimande’s uncle, John Ngcobo, and his son, Zwelethu, the accused’s cousin, that the relationship between Nzimande and De Lange had soured towards the end of her life.

Ngcobo added that Nzimande’s alleged troublesome behaviour, which included stealing from relatives, excessive alcohol consumption and drug use, had caused a rift within the family, with De Lange supporting the accused’s rehabilitation journey.

Trial within a trial

During last week’s proceedings, Chiliza’s objection led to a ruling by Sibisi that a trial within a trial be held over the testimony of investigating officer detective Sergeant Noelen Chetty.

“These admissions are coming through the back door and they will poison this trial,” Chiliza had argued.

Accused pleads not guilty

Nzimande has pleaded not guilty to De Lange’s murder, stating in his defence that on the night of the incident he had smoked cannabis and overdosed on prescription pills before passing out, and is unaware of what happened to his grandmother or in the granny flat, which was found bloodied and in disarray by the first police officers at the scene.

He has also disputed testimony by a state witness that he allegedly shouted that his ancestors had ‘instructed’ him to commit the murder.

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