The appropriate way to deal with the murder charges against suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli is through a formal inquest and not a trial, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday.
Charges against him would be formally withdrawn on April 10 when the trial was supposed to start, said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.
“The appropriate decision to make at this stage is to provisionally withdraw the charges until the outcome of the inquest proceedings.
South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke made the decision to conduct an inquest on receipt of representation from Mdluli’s lawyers, said Mhaga.
“Unfortunately, representations made by the accused are without prejudice which means we maintain confidentiality at all costs hence we are not at liberty to disclose contents of their representations,” he said.
Charges against Mdluli’s co-accused, court orderly Samuel Dlomo (49) Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba (38) and Lieutenant Colonel Mtunzi-Omhle Mthembeni Mtunzi (52) would also be withdrawn.
They were all charged with intimidation, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Mdluli faced an additional charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The trial was supposed to start on April 10 and end on May 13. — Sapa