/ 19 May 2010

ET murder accused’s bail hearing continues

Et Murder Accused's Bail Hearing Continues

The bail hearing of a 28-year-old man accused of hacking to death right-wing leader Eugene Terre’blanche, was expected to resume in the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Doubts emerged over Chris Mahlangu’s citizenship and age at his last court appearance because he did not have an identity document, and no trace of him could be found at the department of home affairs.

His attorney Puna Moroko argued that Mahlangu should be released on bail because he had two minor children who needed him. He said his client would not be a flight risk as he did not have a passport.

The court heard on May 10 that Mahlangu and his co-accused, a 15-year-old youth, broke into Terre’blanche’s North West farmhouse on April 3, struck him 28 times with a panga and iron rod while he was asleep, pulled his pants down and stole his cellphone.

Terre’blanche was “totally unrecognisable” after the attack. The brutality of the crime had “disturbed” investigating officer Tsietsi Mano.

In his testimony, Mano said the evidence against Mahlangu was “overwhelming”. Not only had he bragged about the killing to several farm workers, he also pointed out the murder scene to police, and the blood on his clothes matched that of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging leader.

Mano said it was a planned attack over a wage dispute and missing cattle.

Moroko, however, argued that his client acted in self defence.

The bail hearing was set to continue with Moroko cross-examining the investigating officer. The State was expected to also call Mahlangu’s uncle as a witness.

The trial against the youth was set down for September. — Sapa