News / Africa
Zim's most wanted criminal in SA's trial delayed, evidence being finalised
13 Dec 2011 at 08:13hrs | Views
Pretoria - Bongani Moyo, who escaped from custody in August, and three co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on a string of armed robbery charges.
Magistrate Maryke de la Rey remanded the four men in custody until February 27.
Moyo was charged together with Leon Ncube, Khumbulani Sibanda and Thabani Sibanda. The four appeared in court through a video link from the Pretoria Central Prison.
State prosecution told the court there was still vital evidence relevant to the case which was yet to be finalised.
The prosecutor said the State had now acquired the services of "a specialist to assist in analysing the video footage collected from different banks during robberies".
Blood samples needed in the investigations were yet to be collected from the accused.
De la Rey urged the State to speed up the investigation process in a bid to avoid further postponements and finalise the matter. "There is need to expedite this matter. These people first appeared in court in May," she said.
State prosecution told the court there was still vital evidence relevant to the case which was yet to be finalised.
The four were represented by Donald du Plessis, a lawyer provided by the Legal Aid Board.
Moyo made headlines when he escaped from court on August 10 by nonchalantly walking out of the premise along with members of the public.
He was using crutches when he was brought to court by prison officials.
Moyo was arrested three weeks later.
It was not the Zimbabwean's first escape attempt. In March, he escaped from Boksburg Prison. He was arrested almost three months later.
Moyo's escape trial was postponed in November as he told the court that he had a toothache and could not participate in the trial proceedings.
The escape trial was postponed to January 24.
Magistrate Maryke de la Rey remanded the four men in custody until February 27.
Moyo was charged together with Leon Ncube, Khumbulani Sibanda and Thabani Sibanda. The four appeared in court through a video link from the Pretoria Central Prison.
State prosecution told the court there was still vital evidence relevant to the case which was yet to be finalised.
The prosecutor said the State had now acquired the services of "a specialist to assist in analysing the video footage collected from different banks during robberies".
Blood samples needed in the investigations were yet to be collected from the accused.
De la Rey urged the State to speed up the investigation process in a bid to avoid further postponements and finalise the matter. "There is need to expedite this matter. These people first appeared in court in May," she said.
State prosecution told the court there was still vital evidence relevant to the case which was yet to be finalised.
The four were represented by Donald du Plessis, a lawyer provided by the Legal Aid Board.
Moyo made headlines when he escaped from court on August 10 by nonchalantly walking out of the premise along with members of the public.
He was using crutches when he was brought to court by prison officials.
Moyo was arrested three weeks later.
It was not the Zimbabwean's first escape attempt. In March, he escaped from Boksburg Prison. He was arrested almost three months later.
Moyo's escape trial was postponed in November as he told the court that he had a toothache and could not participate in the trial proceedings.
The escape trial was postponed to January 24.
Source - Sapa
