Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane
Pretoria - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has instructed the Mpumalanga police to release a fifth suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee.
This was revealed outside the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mbombela yesterday before the appearance of the Nigerian national who was linked to the murder through a cellphone and laptop belonging to Gardee.
“We have been advised to get a tech expert who can verify that the gadgets belonging to the late Miss Gardee were in the possession of the fifth suspect that we arrested,” provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said. Mohlala said their investigation had linked the suspect to the crime. “We use equipment that can track phones and phone numbers.
Mohlala said the Nigerian national, who is believed to be in his mid thirties, was taken in for questioning on Sunday afternoon.
He was formally charged on Tuesday, and was expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
Meanwhile, the Hawks police unit has revealed that accused number 4 in the Gardee matter is facing charges of killing three other women.
Hlabirwa Rasie Nkuna, 36, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Pretty Mazibuko, along with her sister Sergeant Marcia Mazibuko, in Kanyamazane, two months after Hillary’s body was found in Mbombela in May.
According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Mohlala, Nkuna has confessed to killing Gardee.
Although he told police that he was acting alone, he is facing charges relating to Gardee’s murder along with three others, Sipho Mkhatshwa, 39, Philemon Lukhele, 47, and Albert Gama, 52. The four face charges of kidnapping, rape and murder.
Pretoria News