Hillary Gardee murder accused return to court.
The Gardee family have launched an urgent application at the Pretoria High Court for an order compelling SAPS to make more arrests in this case.
Hillary Gardee’s murder accused will return to court for their bail application on Friday.
Sipho Mkhatshwa, Philemon Lukhele and Albert Gama, who are currently in custody after initially being charged with the kidnapping, rape and murder of Gardee, have also been slapped with a charge of conspiracy to murder.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga ANC pays homage to Duarte
Mkhatshwa was the first defendant to apply for bail, but his first bid was dealt a heavy blow when he was dumped by his legal team and had to find a new one.
The two others have since acquired the services of their own legal teams, and came forward with the intention of applying for bail after spending more than 30 days behind bars.
Mpumalanga News has since learnt that in preparation for his bail application, Lukhele’s attorneys have written to the state seeking clarity on the charge sheet.
ALSO READ: Models gear up to compete for Miss and Miss Teen eKasi
The Gardee family has launched an urgent application to the Pretoria High Court for an order compelling SAPS to make more arrests in this case.
The Gardee family spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo, said in a statement that their application stems from numerous family efforts to assist the police with information, but in vain, due to inexplicable reasons and dismal failures by the SAPS detective unit.
“Now that the prosecution has announced additional charges of conspiracy to murder, the case assumes all the hallmarks of an organised crime for which investigations reside in the competency of the Hawks. The record delays and incompetence exhibited by the detective unit, including but not limited to the elbowing out of crime intelligence services and keeping the family in the dark, is treasonous to say the least,” read part of Tambo’s statement.
He said the family has also requested an order compelling the transfer of the case docket to the Hawks.
“This delay has a potential risk of evidence destruction and defeating the ends of justice,” he said.
Gardee was kidnapped in Mbombela on April 29 while on her way home from the shops with her adopted three-year-old daughter. Her body was found next to the Sabie/Lydenburg Road on May 2.
The police suspect she was murdered in a lodge owned by Lukhele, which he uses as accommodation for university students.
A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, went on record to say they cannot disclose any more information with regards to their investigation, as that may jeopardise the case.
