Trial of murder and defeating ends of justice accused postponed again

The trial of murder accused Julius Thabiso Mndawe (26) of Numbi Trust has been postponed to Friday February 4. He appeared in the Mpumalanga High Court on Wednesday February 2.

Mpumalanga NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said the matter was postponed to Friday for judgement and for the court to decide if the murders were premeditated.

Mndawe pleaded guilty to five counts of murder and five counts of defeating the ends of justice, which the state did not accept, on Tuesday February 1.

The investigating officer in the case, Joseph Mnisi, gave a statement on Wednesday.

The alleged serial killer is accused of murdering and burying Banele Khoza (15), Noxolo Mdluli (17), Tokie Tlaka (24), Nomthandazo Mdluli (19) and Felicia Ndlovu (17), between 2018 and 2019 in Numbi Village in Hazyview.

Mndawe was arrested on July 14, 2019, and has since appeared in court numerous times. In his plea, Mndawe told the court that the incidents had happened on the spur of the moment. The state does not agree with his statement.

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“The deaths happened between March 2018 and May 2019. All victims had been reported missing by their families and all had connections with the accused. “They were later found buried in the shallow graves at the accused’s place of residence. During the police investigations, the accused was found in possession of a victim’s cellphone and was subsequently arrested,” explained Nyuswa.

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