The inquest hearing into a 13-year-old murder, in which Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli is implicated, has been postponed to September.
“With or without legal representation this matter is going ahead on September 3. I'm setting aside a month for it,” Boksburg magistrate Jurg Viviers said on Monday.
“We are not going beyond September. It is costing a lot of money. Everyone has enough time to prepare.”
The court heard that the State had declined Mdluli's request for financial assistance.
“I am disappointed to inform the court that we received a written reply to say that the application for State funding has been declined,” his lawyer Ike Motloung said.
“I already have instructions at looking at the possibility of taking the decision on review.”
Motloung would review the decision and decide whether to continue as Mdluli's lawyer. On May 28, the court would be updated on whether Motloung would remain his lawyer.
Criminal charges against Mdluli and his accomplices Samuel Dlomo, Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mtunzi-Omhle Mthembeni Mtunzi were provisionally withdrawn in February, pending the outcome of the inquest proceeding.
The initial charges against them were intimidation, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
The charges related to the killing of Mdluli's ex-lover's husband Oupa Ramogibe in 1999. At the time of the crime, Mdluli was branch commander of the Vosloorus police station. – Sapa