Brits - A 35-year-old man accused of beating his girlfriend to death with a hammer in Jericho appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
James Maluleka from Legonyane village in Jericho, who was dressed in a green Springbok jersey, told the court he did not have a lawyer.
“I did not manage to get a lawyer. I request that my case be postponed to January next year… by that time I will have a lawyer to represent me,” the accused told the court.
“Are you abandoning bail?” magistrate Moses Maswangwani asked.
“I will apply for bail once I have a lawyer,” Maluleka replied.
The case was postponed to February 29, for for further investigation and to allow the accused time to get a lawyer.
Maluleka allegedly struck his girlfriend, 28, with a hammer on November 28, after she told him their relationship was over.
He struck the girlfriend on her head with a hammer before he attacked her 62-year-old mother. He struck the mother in the head with a hammer. The girlfriend died on the scene and her mother was taken to the hospital in a critical condition.
On his way out, Maluleka allegedly met with the girlfriend’s 25-year-old sister and he hacked her with a panga. She suffered injuries to the head and was taken to hospital, where she was later discharged.
Police arrested Maluleka on the same day he allegedly committed the crimes.
Residents of Legonyane packed the court room, they pinned posters on their clothes, reading: “In memory of Helen, no bail, stop abuse”.
African News Agency
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