The case against Adam Phiri has been postponed by the Alex Magistrates’ Court for further investigation.
Phiri is charged with his girlfriend’s murder at their Far East Bank home on 29 April. He was found hanging from a rafter in the same room as the victim, Shailett Ndebele, who had been stabbed to death with a knife.
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He appeared before Magistrate Rennier Boshoff and denied the charge.
The court heard that Phiri telephoned his brother, who came and rescued him. He was found hanging from the rafters and the victim was lying dead on a bloodied bed. It is alleged that Phiri admitted to killing Ndebele during the call.
A witness and neighbour of the accused is said to have told the police that she at first refused to let the brother in when he shouted from the gate, as she didn’t know him. Instead, she went to the accused’s room to check if he was in. There she discovered blood on the door handle and floor and saw the accused hanging from the rafter.
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She ran back screaming and let the brother in who discovered that the accused was still breathing and cut him down.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene and they certified Ndebele, who had a stab wound in the neck, dead. The accused was taken to a hospital under police guard.
Phiri denied the charge, claiming that he didn’t know what happened.
