Krejcir’s defence team request more time
JOBURG - Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir appeared briefly in Palm Ridge High court on 8 May to start is month-long trial on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.
However, the trial was postponed to 12 May after the defence argued that they had not had enough time to prepare. According to The Citizen, the defence team were irritated at the dumping of 57 000 pages of information on them by State Advocate Louis Mashiane, who has successfully opposed bail for Krejcir four times.
The Eye Witness News Reporter Twitter page reported that Krejcir’s defence team had argued that the state didn’t give it documents it asked for and therefore couldn’t prepare for trial.
Krejcir and five others were expected to appear in court on 5 May, but a presiding officer was unavailable and the trial was postponed.
He is on trial on charges of kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempted murder relating to an alleged drug deal worth R24 million that went wrong last year. He also faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and possession of unlicensed firearms.
His co-accused are Desai Luphondo, former East Rand organised crime unit officers Samuel Maropeng, George Nthoroane and Jan Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya.
The defence had also brought an application to ask the judge for the case to be taken off the roll which was denied.
The defence agreed to go through the state’s documents and noted they would be ready to proceed with the trial on 12 May.
