The murder trial of Glenwood bed and breakfast owner Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Needham has been adjourned to January 21, 2026, following a brief sitting at the Durban High Court this morning.

According to Berea Mail, the trial was scheduled to run from October 9 until tomorrow. However, with the volume of evidence yet to be presented and the number of witnesses still to testify, the matter had to be postponed to next year.

“We are unable to call another witness at this time and leave the testimony and evidence hanging,” said Judge Khosi Hadebe before setting a provisional date of January 21.

Four accused to remain in custody

The four accused — Mzotelwa Manelisi Jali (24), Mdumiseni Gumede (21), Bernard Langa (25), and Fana Bruce Nomfemfe (51) — will remain behind bars until their next appearance.

They face charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy to commit robbery, perjury, defeating the ends of justice, and illegal possession of a firearm, which all men have pleaded not guilty to.

According to state prosecutor Advocate Thabani Buthelezi, at least six witnesses are still expected to testify next year. The defence indicated it has about four witnesses, with two of the accused also opting to take the stand.

Telkom expert testimony links accused

Before the adjournment, the court heard from expert witness Manuel Govender from Telkom, whose testimony linked the four accused to the gruesome murder and robbery of 69-year-old Needham.

Needham’s body was found bound with bedding and blood splatter by a former employee on the morning of August 11, 2022. She had been robbed and murdered the night before.

Giving his testimony, Govender said data showed nearly 900 transactions — calls and text messages — between all four accused between August 11, 2022, and March 14, 2023.

One of those was played out in court. CCTV footage showed accused one withdrawing money from the deceased’s bank account at an ATM on Dr Pixley ka Seme Street (West Street). After withdrawing the cash, he called accused three.

Jali, Gumede, Langa and Nomfemfe later met at Liberty Liquors, where they allegedly spent some of that money. Govender confirmed that ‘there were 422 transactions between accused one and three, 221 between accused one and accused four, and 81 between accused one and two’ — all between August 2022 and March 2023.

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