Durban - Despite witnesses to the alleged crime of passion as well as CCTV footage of the entire event, and the bloodied murder weapon being found in his car, a man held for the stabbing to death of his former fiancee at the Liberty Midlands Mall intends pleading not guilty to her murder.
Nkululeko Ngubane, 30, confirmed this at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday where he made a bid for bail.
Ngubane, who flung himself off the N3 bridge near the mall after the June murder of his former lover, Sindiswa Mshengu, suffered multiple fractures in his suicide attempt and hobbled into court on crutches.
He could not manoeuvre himself around the court and eventually court orderlies carried him in and out of the dock.
Ngubane listened intently to the testimony of investigating officer Milton Hadebe who is opposing his application.
Hadebe, who confirmed that Ngubane had been paying lobola for Mshengu, said he believed Ngubane would interfere with state witnesses if released on bail.
Hadebe told the court that witnesses to the murder were still traumatised. He said one potential witness, from whom Ngubane allegedly bought the knife used in the murder, was too scared to give police a full statement.
CCTV footage allegedly shows Ngubane walking into a shop at the mall and buying a knife for R100.
Hadebe said he also believed that if released on bail, Ngubane would attempt suicide again, or alternatively, his life could be in danger from an enraged Willowfontein community where Mshengu lived.
Mshengu was employed as a parking attendant at the mall, while Ngubane was employed at The Company’s Man clothing store in the mall.
Hadebe said CCTV footage showed Ngubane driving to the entrance/exit 2 of the mall where Mshengu, 27, was manning the boom gate.
It allegedly shows Ngubane motioning to Mshengu from his car. He gets out of his car and appears to stab Mshengu repeatedly.
A colleague is seen rushing to help Mshengu and Ngubane is then seen jumping into his car and driving off. Minutes later he stops his car on the bridge and jumps off onto the N3 below.
The bail application was adjourned to August 26 when Ngubane is expected to testify.
Daily News