By Godfrey Simons
BLOEMFONTEIN – Bloemfontein High court Judge, Justice Stephanus Hancke has postponed the case of a Qwa Qwa man suspected to be mentally ill to January 25 2013 to allow doctors to assess him.
Thabang Champagne Mokoena, 21 is facing three charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and rape of a police reservist in November 24 2010.
When the judge read the order postponing the case, Mokoena started giggling and then stopped. The case had been postponed from Monday, October 7 to Wednesday, October 9 because his legal counsel could not get instructions from him.
Justice Hancke said: “The reason for postponement is for you to get medication for your condition. The court orders the correctional warders to give you medicine and record the administration of the medicine in your file. Dr Maduna should issue a psychological report on your behalf two weeks before the trial starts.”
On Wednesday Mokoena’s lawyer Advocate Sunette Kruger said there was no record of medication being administered to him. “I cannot take instructions from the accused. I’m not sure if he is faking his mental illness or it is genuine. However, when I was consulting with him, he
just stood up and walked away,” Kruger said.
Mokoena wanted his case to proceed because he thought he would die in jail. Two of his co-accused have been given lengthy jail terms. Lucky Nhgwedi, 20, from Lusaka Square in Batho Location was sentenced to 25 years for murder, 7 years for robbery and 20 years for rape. All sentences are running concurrently.
Seanette Mashinini, 22, from Bethlehem was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years for robbery and life imprisonment for rape. All the sentences are running concurrently.
The state was represented by Advocate Silas Chalale. The case has been set for 21 to 25 January 2013.