Gill Gifford

The trial of Pretoria High Court Judge Nkola Motata, ongoing for almost two years, has stalled again as his lawyers have withdrawn from the case.

The matter was set down for Judge Motata's legal team to lodge an application for the case to be discharged on grounds that the state has failed to prove that the judge was driving drunk on the night he crashed his Jaguar into the garden wall belonging to Hurlingham property owner Richard Baird.

The state had called all its witnesses and closed its case when Judge Motata's counsel Danie Dorfling announced that the defence intended to make a Section 174 application under the Criminal Procedure Act - a request for the case to be discharged brought on the basis that the state's case against Judge Motata was so weak that he believed he should not have to present evidence to counter the state's claims.
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