The 29-year-old Onke Hartin Mashinini appeared in the Johannesburg High Court again on 29 July, which should have been his first day of trial.
Friends and family of Liyaqat ‘Lee’ Mentoor gathered at the court with high expectations, but were bitterly disappointed when, only a few minutes after Mashinini appeared in the dock, the case was postponed – yet again.
According to Estelle Delport, the family representative, the reason for the postponement was that an older case on the court roll (not related to Mashinini) needed to be finalised.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/03/18/missing-toddler-one-year-laterjusticeforlee-one-year-later-web/
“We understand that this is totally out of the Prosecutor’s hands and, as they say ‘circumstances beyond their control’ but, as a family, we are frustrated. Are we ever going to find closure? It’s been more than a year and Lee has not been found. We still do not have any answers. I feel so helpless and we are devastated!” Delport said.
The case has been postponed to 14 August, but, according to Delport, this will only be for another postponement. “We were told that trial might only start on 19 August, probably even after that. As a family, we were looking forward to the start of trial today, 29 July, as it was a step closer to answers we so desperately seek, but we had to leave court very disappointed,” she concluded.
Mashinini will remain in custody until his next appearance.
