A security guard was too far from where Nelson Chisale was being assaulted to save him, the Phalaborwa Circuit Court — trying three men accused of feeding Chisale to lions — heard on Tuesday. He also had no phone to call for help, Forget Tsaku Ndlovu testified.

There was a crush at the door of Phalaborwa Circuit Court on Tuesday as spectators jostled for seats in the public gallery for the second day in the trial of three men accused of feeding a former colleague to lions. People queued outside from early on Tuesday morning to be assured of a place inside.

The trial of the three men accused of throwing a man to his death in a lion’s den was adjourned on Monday morning when the first of the accused pleaded guilty, contrary to his lawyer’s instructions. Richard ”Doctor” Mathebula told the court: ”I would say I plead guilty because I followed instructions given to me by my employer.”