Accused number 4 may still appear for Hillary’s murder in Mbombela
Mpumalanga NPA's spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa said they are aware that Hlabirwa Rassie Nkune was accused number on the Hillary Gardee case and they are still busy tracing witnesses for the case so they will be able to reinstate it and Nkune to face the music.
Hillary Gardee, slain daughter of the former EFF secretary general, Godrich Gardee, might still get justice after all.
So said the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). It said it is still busy with the Gardee murder case that was provisionally withdrawn by the Mbombela Division of the High Court, and which could be reinstated.
This was brought to light shortly after the sentencing of one of the accused, the convicted Hlabirwa Rassie Nkune (37), on May 18.
Nkune was accused number four in the Hillary Gardee case. He had allegedly confessed to killing her.
He was sentenced to two life imprisonment terms for killing Pretty Mazibuko, his girlfriend, and her sister, Marccia, who was a police officer, stationed at the Ngodwana Police Station.
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“We are aware that Nkune was accused number four in the Hillary Gardee case. It was provisionally withdrawn a few weeks ago. We are still busy with the matter. We are busy tracing witnesses. Once we have found all of them, we will reinstate it and Nkune will come back and face the music,” said the Mpumalanga NPA’s spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa.
When asked if the NPA is updating the Gardee family, Nyuswa said, “I think the prosecution and the police are working closely with the family involved and are updating them on the matter.”
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Nkune was arrested in his hideout in Springs in August 2022, after he had been linked to another murder of a woman within the Delmas area.
The Mpumalanga EFF has since welcomed the high court’s judgment handed down to Nkune, arguing that this is a victory to all gender-based violence victims.
“This judgment will send a strong message to all gender-based violence perpetrators. And we hope that the NPA gather all the evidence they need and will eventually reinstate the Hillary Gardee case, because the family needs closure,” said the EFF’s provincial leader, Collen Sedibe.
