Accused appears in Bushbuckridge Magistrates Court for mental observation report
Reply Ngobeni is accused of the murder of his five-year-old cousin and his legal representative requested him to be taken for mental observation.
A man accused of killing a minor appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on September 18.
Reply Ngobeni (27), from Rainbow in Bushbuckridge, is accused of the murder of his five-year-old cousin, Testimony Manchidi.
The Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said, “The murder accused was in court for the presentation of a mental observation report, however, during his appearance, it transpired that it was not ready and the case was postponed to October 17 for the presentation of the same report.”
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Nyuswa said the accused had allegedly taken the victim to a local shop to buy snacks on July 25.
The accused allegedly returned alone and informed the family that the victim had gone to play with other children in the neighbourhood. The family became worried and started a search, and later discovered the girl’s body in the nearby bush with her throat slit and stab wounds on her upper body,” she said.
The accused previously appeared in court for a formal bail application, which the state opposed due to the seriousness of the offence.
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His legal representative told the court he is not mentally stable and requested him to be taken for mental observation.
State prosecutor Asanda Soduka told the court that the state has hospital records proving that the accused is receiving medication. Ngobeni remains in custody.
