Johannesburg - Lolly Jackson’s alleged killer George Louca was not hospitalised with tuberculosis as originally suspected, but rather a debilitating form of lung cancer.
In the next 48 hours, Louca is set to undergo a further series of fast-tracked tests – including a biopsy – to determine the stage of the disease.
“It appears on the face of it to be quite extensive,” his lawyer Owen Blumberg said.
And, as doctors try to determine if the extensive tumours in his now disabled lung have spread, his lawyer is concerned he may not survive to testify and prove his claims of innocence.
Jackson was gunned down at a house in Kempton Park in 2010. Louca was named the prime suspect in the Teazers boss’s murder.
Louca left South Africa shortly after the shooting, but was located in Cyprus and extradited last year.
He has remained in custody since his extradition.
Last month, he was taken to hospital with a serious chest infection that, according to Blumberg, led to the cancer’s discovery.
Louca’s murder trial was meant to start in January, but it emerged in the interim that he had made several representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions in a bid to turn State witness and to say who he thought was responsible for Jackson’s death.
There have been reports that Louca has already fingered Czech businessman and alleged underworld kingpin Radovan Krejcir as the triggerman.
Meanwhile, Blumberg is also in talks with the State around a plea bargain on a second, separate charge of possession of stolen property, but according to the lawyer, the stakes have now changed.
He did not want to speculate on how Louca’s worsening health could affect the two trials he faces.
However, he said a serious illness could be a mitigating factor in sentencing proceedings.
“If it is a really aggressive cancer and he doesn’t have much time, I can’t anticipate what direction the court will take (in the murder trial),” he added.
Blumberg said Louca had already provided written affidavits to the State, but expressed concern that his client may never be able to fully explain before a court what happened on the night of the murder.
A comprehensive medical report has been sent to the National Prosecuting Authority and SAPS investigators.
According to NPA spokesman Velekhaya Mgobhozi, they are not in a position to talk about Louca’s health.
“The NPA is waiting for a medical report from the defence team. The NPA will study the report and make a decision,” Mgobhozi said.
He added that the State had a prima facie case in Jackson’s murder, and Louca’s medical condition was currently not relevant.
Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Solomon Makgale said Louca’s health was concerning, but that investigators were still waiting for the medical report.
“We have adopted a wait-and-see attitude,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation has said Louca’s chequered history might undermine his credibility on the stand and that the State had a strong enough case against Krejcir even without Louca’s direct testimony.
Krejcir is on trial alongside five others for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a man whose brother had stolen a large quantity of tik meant for the businessman.
The Star