/ 1 June 2000

FAIRHEAD TRIAL POSTPONED

THE Fairhead trial in Port Alfred has been postponed until Monday after the prosecution concluded its evidence. It is expected that the three accused will testify when the court resumes next week. On Thursday one of the accused, a 17-year-old, admitted to being present at the abduction of the the Fairheads but not at the murders. The case started earlier on Monday amid huge public interest with a strong police presence, including the Public Order Policing Unit. The accused are the brothers, Zolani and Bongani Tom, both 22, and a 17-year-old who may not be named. The charges are murder, rape, indecent assault, kidnapping and robbery, and the three say they are not guilty. Cape Town businesswoman Brenda Fairhead and her 11-year-old daughter, Kia, were last seen alive on a fishing outing near Port Alfred in January.