Karin Blignaut appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on April 13 and her matter saw another postponement.
She stands accused of defeating or obstructing the administration of justice and submitting a false statement in an affidavit.
In a separate matter heard before the South Gauteng High Court, where an interdict application was brought against the complainant in this matter, Rynette Farrar, supporting documents along with this ‘supplementary affidavit’ was used.
Farrar alleged that Blignaut made a ‘false affidavit’ against her in December 2013. However, the accused has since pleaded not guilty to the two counts that she is charged with.
On a previous occasion, Blignaut’s defence previously applied for Section 174 application and the State opposed it.
Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act stipulates:
“If at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence referred to in the charge or any offence of which he/she may be convicted on the charge, it may return a verdict of not guilty.”
During her appearance, the State presented its arguments in its attempt to prove its case and oppose the application brought by the defence. The defence also presented a statement in an attempt to prove that the document served before the court was not an affidavit.
Though the defence wanted the accused to be discharged according to Section 174, the court dismissed the application.
Her matter has since been postponed to June 12 for further trial. She remains out on warning.
ALSO READ: Karin Blignaut’s defence to present their arguments in court
