Surprise State witness for accused in murder trial

Durban - In a dramatic twist, one of those accused of murdering Merebank mother, Charmaine Naidoo, wants to call a State witness who, he claims, has new evidence – a man who has been in Westville Prison with him and those on trial, but for another matter.

Naidoo’s family came to court on Thursday expecting judgment to be handed down against the three men, including Naidoo’s husband, charged with her murder.

Instead, they heard that one of the accused, Bongani Manyathi, hoped to call a State witness to help his case.

The State witness, said to be Naidoo’s close relative, is being held in the awaiting trial prisoners section at Westville Prison on another matter.

This is the same section where Naidoo’s husband, Alvin Maistry, Manyathi and the third co-accused, Mandlenkosi Jobe, are being held.

It is alleged the relative, not named onThursday, intended to change his testimony. Manyathi’s attorney, Shahin Azmuth, told Durban High Court acting Judge Burt Laing, that she needed to consult with this witness who was supposed to have been brought with the accused to court.

This announcement “disturbed” Naidoo’s relatives, who said they found the situation stressful especially after they had expected to hear the judgment.

This witness had identified Manyathi as one of the robbers in an identity parade and also in court when he testified during the trial.

Naidoo was murdered in February 2014 after she had been abducted from her home in what initially appeared to be a robbery. Her body was later found in uMbumbulu. She had been strangled and stabbed.

It is alleged Maistry planned the murder and hired Jobe to assist him. Jobe then apparently hired Manyathi and another man, Sifiso Joyisa, to carry out the crimes. Joyisa pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 40 years.