Bail sought in battery acid murder
The KZN man alleged to have killed his ex-girlfriend by forcing battery acid down her throat has applied for bail.
|||Durban - The violence and cruelty shown by the man alleged to have killed his ex-girlfriend by forcing battery acid down her throat, should be reason enough for him to be denied bail.
This was the view of prosecutor Samkelisiwe Hlongwane who said she had no words to describe the cruelty shown by murder accused Siphiwe Mbanjwa. Hlongwane was addressing the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court during argument at Mbanjwa’s bail application on Tuesday.
“There is no day that passes without the court presiding over a case involving violence against women by either their spouse or partner,” she said.
Mbanjwa is charged with the murder of 23-year-old Lifeline counsellor Thulile Phungula.
Hlongwane referred to the recent cases of former Jozi FM DJ Donald Sebolai, convicted of murdering his girlfriend. She also referred to Oscar Pistorius being paroled after killing Reeva Steenkamp, and the case of the former Air Force Colonel who allegedly threw two hand grenades at his wife, killing her instantly.
“The prevalence of these crimes against women has become disturbing,” she said.
Hlongwane said the community was outraged by the murder and that Mbanjwa’s safety had been threatened.
“The court cannot guarantee his safety if he is granted bail. People are shocked and angered by this savage murder. It is unbelievable that a human being is capable of such cruelty,” she said.
Mbanjwa’s attorney, Phumelani Fakude, argued that his client had handed himself over to police after the murder, and this “showed the type of character he was”.
“He has no means of leaving the country and will stand trial if granted bail. He is not a person who will run away,” Fakude said.
Fakude referred to the case of Rajiv Soni, who is on trial in the high court for the murder of a doctor. Soni is out on R100 000 bail.
“Soni is accused of murder and yet he is out on bail. It is a constitutional right for an accused person to be granted bail,” Fakude said.
Mbanjwa was arrested shortly after Phungula’s death on August 21.
He has denied involvement in her death.
It is alleged that Mbanjwa cornered Phungula at her home, dragged her into nearby bushes and forced her to drink battery acid. Her organs disintegrated which resulted in her death.
Phungula apparently identified her killer before she died. Judgment on bail will be delivered on November 9.
Daily News
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