THERE were smiles all round in Pinetown’s F court on Monday 4 November when Magistrate Gwendolyn Robinson transferred the case against musician and murder accused, Charlie Ridgway, to the regional court later this month.
The family of Jennifer King, who had been pushing for the case to continue to trial, were visibly delighted when a trial date in regional court 2 was decided on.
Lee-Anne King, Jennifer’s daughter let out an involuntary whoop of joy which reverberated throughout the courtroom.
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“We are delighted this case is carrying on to the trial itself, these delays have been dreadful,” said King.
Ridgway was also pleased by the decision for the case to move to the regional court.
“This is just what I was hoping for today,” said the smiling accused who remained out on bail.
Ridgway’s attorney, Paula Dos Santos, said she was delighted that the matter was finally proceeding to the trial stage. “This is exactly the outcome we hoped for today,” said Dos Santos when the Highway Mail spoke to her and Ridgway after they left the court.
The case has been postponed a number of times each time, to the chagrin of Ridgway who remarked that his life has been put on hold for the case and he felt the delays were preventing justice for Jennifer King, the grandmother from Kloof who was found dead in January this year.
“I have lost my job and while my bail conditions don’t specifically say I can’t perform, I have not been able to,” said Ridgway, a musician.
He said the fear he felt by being out, and seen on stage, made it impossible for him to work. “I am watching my back all the time,” he said.
Dos Santos said she was unhappy about how her client had been treated by the family of the deceased.
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“We are going to be filing charges against Lee-Anne King this week for criminal defamation of character as she has publicly said some things we feel are not acceptable,” said the attorney. “The courts are the place where this matter should be heard, not anywhere else,” she added.
Dos Santos said Ridgway’s defense team welcomed the opportunity to clear her client of the charges he was facing. “We want Charlie acquitted, this date being set for the case to appear in the regional court is the first step towards making that happen,” she said.
“I want justice for Jen too,” said Ridgway quipping that he would even like one of the T-shirts with the words “#JusticeForJen” printed on the front and back, that supporters of the King family wore to court at his three most recent appearances.
“Once we have an acquittal, hopefully, the real killer of Jennifer King can be found and justice can be done,” said Dos Santos nodding in agreement with Ridgway’s comment.
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