Senzo Meyiwa Murder Case: Suspects’ Advocate Malesela Teffo Calls for the Trial Resume As Soon as Possible
- Advocate Malesela Teffo wrote to the high court for it to consider moving the date for the murder trial
- Teffo said the accused has been receiving death threats from the police and asked the national police commissioner to intervene
- The advocate is also considering suing the Minister of Police Bheki Cele and the police officers who arrested him
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JOHANNESBURG - Advocate Malesela Teffo who is representing four of the five men accused of killing soccer star Senzo Meyiwa has asked the high court to resume the trial earlier than planned. Teffo wrote to the high court for it to consider making an urgent request to bring the trial forward to May 18 rather than the initial proposed date of May 30.
He said it would be in the best interest of all parties involved in the case. The trial was postponed following Teffo's arrest after court proceedings. In his letter, the advocate said the accused he is representing has been receiving death threats from the police.
Source: Twitter
According to Teffo he also wrote a letter to national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola asking him to intervene, however, he did not respond. In the same letter, the national commissioner was informed about the threat to have Teffo arrested, TimesLIVE reported.
The five men accused of killing Meyiwa are Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Sandiso Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Sifisokuhle Nkani Ntuli. They face several charges including premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition.
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The Citizen reported that Teffo is also considering suing the Minister of Police Bheki Cele and the police officers who arrested him. Teffo’s attorney Tshepo Timothy Thobane said the manner, place, timing and way in which he was arrested is concerning.
South Africans react to the case
Social media users are speculating about the details of the case and Teffo’s comments:
Theo Kanakana said:
“Teffo is dramatic and wants to run this case through the media, he was there when the date was set and never objected! This won't end well.”
Franco Sizani commented:
“He's not applying Zuma tactics he wants this case to be solved as yesterday.”
Kenneth Wanga Netshipakoni wrote:
“Yes, great move. We want to see who killed senzo. None of arrested are the ones who killed Senzo.”
Lusani Magonono stated:
“What if it’s someone going to incriminate the suspects and wants it done ASAP before Teffo's issues are resolved.”
Amanda Thabede commented:
“The police sending threats to the suspect! They are not safe.”
Nyiko Elijah Shilax added:
“They going to arrest him soon.”
NPA denies sanctioning Advocate Malesela Teffo's courtroom arrest shortly after the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
In a related story, Briefly News also reported the National Prosecuting Authority has spoken out about the circumstance surrounding the arrest of Advocate Malesela Teffo who is the defence lawyer of four out of the five men who stand accused of slaying the famed soccer player Senzo Meyiwa.
Teffo was arrested by the police last week inside the courtroom at the Pretoria High Court shortly after court proceedings had been adjourned for the day.
The NPA says the arrest inside the courtroom was not given the go ahead by them and the Gauteng director of public prosecutions (DPP) says it was not consulted prior to the arrest and did not give go ahead for Teffo to be arrested in court, according to TimesLIVE.
Source: Briefly News
