Delays in Hillary Gardee Murder Trial Spark Anger from EFF Leaders

EFF Slams “Delaying Tactics” in the Hillary Gardee Murder Trial

Tension ran high in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court this week as proceedings in the Hillary Gardee murder trial were postponed yet again, this time after the accused, Hlabirwa Rassie Nkuna, dismissed both his Legal Aid lawyer and court interpreter.

The decision drew sharp criticism from EFF leaders, who attended the hearing in support of the Gardee family. They accused Nkuna of deliberately obstructing justice in one of South Africa’s most haunting murder cases in recent years.

A Shocking Turn in Court

According to Lowvelder, the courtroom was left stunned when Nkuna’s lawyer, Advocate Maesela Kekana, announced that his client no longer trusted him and had requested his recusal.

“My lady, the accused says he wants a new lawyer because he no longer has trust in me,” Kekana told Judge Lindiwe Vukeya, who appeared visibly frustrated by the timing of the request.

The judge pressed Nkuna to explain why the issue was being raised after case management had already been completed.

“There is a conflict of interest between myself and Kekana. The conflict did not start today and has been ongoing for some time,” Nkuna responded.

The accused then added to the delays by rejecting the court interpreter, claiming that the Sepedi dialect used was “too complicated” for him to understand.

Postponement Draws Political Backlash

Judge Vukeya stood the matter down to determine if a new Legal Aid lawyer and interpreter could be provided, later postponing the case to Friday to resolve the disruptions.

The move infuriated the EFF, whose leaders said the accused was “mocking the justice system.”

“These are just delaying tactics to prevent justice from prevailing,” said Collen Sedibe, EFF’s Mpumalanga chairperson. “The accused first chased his lawyer away, then the interpreter. We are not shakenhe will face the law.”

EFF treasurer-general Omphile Maotwe echoed the frustration, claiming Nkuna was feigning language issues. “He understands English. He’s playing games. This man is a convicted killer using tricks to delay the inevitable,” she said.

Outside the courthouse, EFF supporters sang liberation songs and chanted in solidarity with the Gardee family, demanding that the trial move forward.

A Father’s Pain and a Family’s Fight for Justice

In court, Godrich Gardee, EFF deputy president and Hillary’s father, was visibly emotional. He later suggested that the accused’s lawyer appeared “complicit” in enabling the delays, a sentiment that resonated with many South Africans following the case.

Hillary Gardee, a 28-year-old postgraduate student and businesswoman, vanished in April 2022 after leaving her home in KaMagugu, near Mbombela. Her body was discovered days later in a plantation between Sabie and Lydenburg, sending shockwaves through the nation.

The murder sparked widespread outrage, highlighting concerns over gender-based violence and the slow pace of justice in South Africa’s courts.

Public Reaction: Frustration and Fatigue

On social media, the public voiced frustration at the trial’s repeated postponements. Many echoed the EFF’s stance, accusing the justice system of being too lenient with accused criminals who exploit legal loopholes to delay their trials.

“Every delay reopens the wound for the Gardee family,” wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user. “This isn’t justice; it’s cruelty disguised as procedure.”

Others called for reforms to curb such stalling tactics in criminal cases, particularly when the accused has a prior criminal record, as Nkuna does.

@lowvelder The accused in the Hillary Gardee murder trial dismissed his Legal Aid lawyer in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court today, October 21. EFF members attended court in large numbers to support the Gardee family, singing political slogans and chanting outside the courthouse. #mbombela #gardee #eff #hillarygardee ♬ original sound – Lowveld Media

A Nation Waiting for Closure

For the Gardee family and many South Africans, the case has become symbolic of a justice system under strainone where bureaucracy often clashes with humanity.

As the trial resumes later this week, the EFF has vowed to maintain its presence in court until justice for Hillary Gardee is finally served.

{Source: The Citizen}

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