Two of the three arrested suspects in the Rhodes Park rape and murder trial were on Tuesday seen laughing and enjoying Fanta drinks after a brief appearance in the High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Their matter was postponed after their co-accused, 23-year-old Edmore Ndlovu, was hospitalised at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Thabo Nkala, 25, and Mduduzi Lawrence Mathibela, 32, were brought into court in leg irons.
Nkala wore a white shirt, blue jeans and Nike sneakers, while his co-accused Mathibela was dressed in a white T-shirt, mustard trousers and Lacoste sneakers.
The pair were allegedly part of a 12-man gang that attacked two couples inside Rhodes Park in Kensington on October 17, 2015. The cruel attackers forced the husbands into a nearby lake, where they drowned, before sexually assaulting and raping the women. The callous gang also robbed their victims.
Since Monday, Ndlovu has been complaining of chest pains which he said affected his breathing. As a result the rape and murder trial was postponed to Tuesday, but it could not proceed because Ndlovu’s condition worsened and he had been hospitalised.
Ndlovu’s lawyer Robert Xaba told the court he would find out what was ailing his client and when he would possibly be released from hospital. He will report back to the court on Wednesday.
After the matter was postponed the murder and rape accused pair were seen laughing. They each had a can of Fanta drinks that someone gave them.
The rest of the gang remains at large, but reports said two suspects have been arrested in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where they are awaiting extradition to South Africa.
The case was postponed to Wednesday.
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