Alleged pick-axe killer fit for trial

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Published Jun 23, 2014

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Mbombela - An Mpumalanga man accused of beating his father to death with a pick handle has been declared fit to stand trial.

Mgqibelo Zulu, from Jeppes Reef, appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday on a charge of murder, a Sapa correspondent reported.

He was arrested on February 7, 2009, after his father, Nyamane Zulu, 67, was attacked at their home on the same day. Nyamane died the next day.

Mgqibelo was sent to Weskoppies psychiatric hospital for evaluation after it was suspected he was suffering from a mental disorder and was unfit to stand trial.

Magistrate Andre Geldenhuys said on Monday the results showed the accused was capable of understanding proceedings and of making his defence in court.

“The report indicates at the time when crime was committed, the accused never suffered any mental disorder. There is nothing he can say that makes him not see what is wrong or right. He cannot say he was not aware of what he was doing,” Geldenhuys said.

Geldenhuys said that according to the post mortem, Zulu died from injuries to the chest and right lung.

Mgqibelo's lawyer, Cebo Vilakazi, said he would plead not guilty.

“It is my instruction that on the day of the incident, he was at Nyamane Tavern but not at the crime scene and has a alibi,” Vilakazi said.

Zulu would remain in custody until his next appearance on July 28.

Sapa

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