ELIM – THE Hlanganani magistrate’s court last Friday ordered 55-year-old murder accused, Johannes Mutavhatsindi of Mpheni near Elim, to go for mental observation before his application for bail could proceed.
Magistrate Vhutshilo Nange said he noticed behavioural discrepancies immediately when Mutavhatsindi entered the dock. Nange took the decision to send the accused for mental observation.
Mutavhatsindi allegedly killed his friend, George Manyatsha (62), with an axe two weeks ago.
Waterval police spokesperson, Const Cynthia Ndou, said the two men were drinking some traditional beer at Mutavhatsindi’s house. “Later, community members saw Manyatsha lying face down on the ground near the accused’s house. He had been hacked at with an axe in the head and died,” she said.
Nange postponed the case to May 8 pending Mutavhatsindi’s mental report.
