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Defence lawyer Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu is pictured at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 30 October 2023.
Legal expert Nthabiseng Dubazana says the death of a defence lawyer in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial is a huge blow to the case.
Advocate Thulani Mngomezulu’s family confirmed his death yesterday.
He fell ill last month and this prevented him from attending court proceedings.
Five men are on trial for Meyiwa’s murder at the High Court in Pretoria.
Mngomezulu was representing one of the accused, Muzi Sibiya.
Dubazana says this will have implications for Sibiya.
“So now the court has to determine from the accused whether or not he’s intending to proceed with the matter in person or if he’s going to get a new attorney. And even if it’s the latter, then the new attorney has to be provided with transcripts. So basically, the matter would be postponed for the attorney to have all the information that he has missed – the cross-examination, everything that has happened for him to really prepare and best consult with his client. And then, thereafter, the matter can be set down for the continuation of the trial.”
