Durban - A murder suspect who has been dodging the justice system for 13 years will finally stand trial after he was recently re-arrested following having been on the run for a year.
Zane de Costa, 38, on Monday made a brief appearance at the Durban High Court for the alleged murder of a Newlands man, Dallin Marcell Godfrey.
He is being charged with murder, theft and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Costa is alleged to have murdered Godfrey, whom he knew, in the early hours of September 28, 1999, at Silvertree Road in Wentworth.
According to the indictment, Godfrey had been at his girlfriend’s flat on the night of September 27, 1999, when a quarrel ensued. This led to him leaving.
He was armed with a firearm which belonged to his friend, Reagan Keith Jasmin.
Godfrey met Costa, who was in the company of two other men. They invited him to consume alcohol with them at Costa’s house in Wentworth. The killing is alleged to have taken place thereafter.
The indictment reads: “Later that night, Costa and Godfrey took a walk away from the house. Costa took possession of the firearm and shot Godfrey in the head. He then stole the 9mm Vector Parabellum pistol and the brown firearm holster. He also stripped and robbed Godfrey of his shoes, jewellery and clothing. Costa then returned to his house, where his two friends were asleep at the time.”
A police source (who cannot be named), told the Daily News that Costa was apprehended after the shooting and was charged in 1999.
He allegedly resorted to ”delaying” tactics to stall his trial and, in March 2013, absconded from the high court while on bail.
“Costa was arrested a week after the incident and charged. The Durban Regional Court transferred the matter to the high court. The matter was set down for trial in 2002, while Costa was granted bail.
“He was continuously hiring and firing attorneys. Whenever he appeared at court, his new attorney would ask for an adjournment as they needed time to peruse the court documents,” said the source.
“In March 2013, he provided doctors’ letters stating his health was deteriorating and so forth. His attorney on the day withdrew from the case because he had not been paid by Costa. On that day, Costa ran away from court and it is believed he fled to Johannesburg. A warrant for his arrest was immediately issued by the judge,” he said.
The source added that Costa was spotted in Johannesburg by people who recognised him and knew Godfrey’s family.
Members of the Hawks, in conjunction with the SAPS provincial tracking unit, undertook to get Costa.
“Godfrey’s family had lodged numerous complaints that Costa had been seen in Johannesburg. Members of the provincial tracking unit went looking for him.
“We received a tip-off that Costa was coming to Durban to attend a wedding. And three Saturdays ago, he was apprehended in the vicinity of the Galleria Mall.”
Yesterday, Costa’s defence attorney, Leo Govender, indicated that he intended to engage the services of advocate Jimmy Howse to represent Costa.
Judge Shyam Gyanda warned Costa there would be no more stalling in the case. He said that if he could not afford the services of his own counsel, then legal aid would be appointed, failing which he would have to defend himself.
The matter was adjourned to today, when a trial date is expected to be set.
Daily News