Judgement in the baby Jordan murder trial in the Cape High Court was adjourned to Monday after Judge Basheer Waglay reached page 82 during his reading of the 150-page document.
Although Waglay was expected to have continued to read his judgement through the lunch hour on Friday, he adjourned the proceedings to attend mosque.
In the dock is Dina Rodrigues and four accomplices — Sipho Mfazwe, Mongezi Bobotyane, Zanethemba Gwada, and Bonginkosi Sigenu — accused of the murder of baby Jordan-Leigh Norton in June 2005. They are also charged with conspiracy to murder, aggravated robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Members of the public packed into the courtroom as they had done since Thursday, only to hear the drone of the judge’s voice as he read the marathon judgement.
Many spectators yawned the hours away, with few appearing to understand the proceedings as the judge summarised the testimony.
The air conditioning was out of order, leaving the courtroom warm and stuffy. The press benches were packed, with extra seating put in place for reporters.
In the afternoon session, the judge interrupted the proceedings for a 15-minute break.
When he and his two assessors returned, he said it would be better to postpone the judgement to Monday.
Waglay is expected to continue reading the judgement at 11.30am on Monday.
Jordan’s grandfather, Vernon Norton, told journalists outside the court that their family accepted the adjournment.
”We want to see this thing completed. If the judge needs time to take to deliver it or to interpret it, then that’s what it will take.”
”We’ve come through sixteen months of the trial and almost two years since Jordan’s been killed so another day won’t do us any harm,” said Norton. – Sapa