AKA, Tibz murder: Defence attorney says her client is innocent
The family and attorney of accused three Siyanda Eddie Myeza say the 21-year-old could not have been involved in the murders.
A defence attorney for one of the accused in the highly publicised murder case of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane said her client is a successful businessman and does not have a reason to be involved in the alleged paid hit.
Forbes and Motsoane were killed outside a popular restaurant in Florida Road, Durban, on February 10 last year.
Attorney Yolanda Gielink, representing Siyanda Eddie Myeza (21), who stands as accused number three in the matter, spoke to The Witness on the sidelines of court proceedings at the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Representing Myeza, the youngest of those arrested, Gielink said he is involved in the taxi industry, but she did not specify whether he owned taxis.
However, Gielink said the alleged R200 000 each for the murder was not enticing enough for the accused as they were all successful businessmen.
“I don’t know how taxi tycoons or hitmen can be related to the case unless the deceased were in the taxi industry. These guys run taxis and are successful businessmen. If they wanted to kill someone or had an issue with someone they wouldn’t get paid to do it, nor would they accept a mere R200 000 for it. It seems like too much of a risk,” she explained.
Gielink said she will maintain that her client, Myeza, ‘had nothing to do with this murder’.
Family speaks out
Meanwhile, the family of Myeza said he couldn’t have committed the crime as he was injured and his leg was in a cast when the murder was committed.
His mother and some family members also contested the person seen in the CCTV footage was light skinned, while Myeza was darker in complexion.
Court proceedings
The five men arrested for their alleged involvement to the double murder are Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi (30), Lindani Zenzele Ndimande (35), Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni (36) and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande (29).
They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and five counts of attempted murder.
Yesterday, the state added two more charges of money laundering (acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities) for Mkhwanazi, Ndimande, Myeza and Gwabeni.
All five suspects will be detained at the Westville Prison in Durban, and the matter was postponed to March 14 for a formal bail application.
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