The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mount Fletcher successfully opposed the bail application of
two men, Linki Kholisa (35) and Lucky Fihlani (44), who are charged with the
murder of a tavern owner (50).
She was murdered on June 11,
2023 at her home in Mount Fletcher.
According to the spokesperson for National Prosecuting Authority, Luxolo
Tyali, Magistrate Joseph Cerfontein agreed with prosecutor Funeka Ndleleni that
the accused failed to prove exceptional circumstances for their release on bail
in a serious case of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and that they are a flight
risk and could interfere with witnesses.
“The two men were in the homestead of the witness, when accused Kholisa
allegedly recruited others to go and kill the tavern owner,
whom he resented. He wanted to borrow a knife from one of them but was never given (the knife).
Fihlani agreed to go and fulfil the mission.
“At about 03:00 they allegedly
armed themselves with knives, went to the deceased’s house and kicked the door
to gain entrance,” said Tyali.
The deceased was sleeping in one room with her daughter (15) who is
physically challenged.
He said they assaulted the deceased, when she tried to
flee and get out of the window, they overpowered her, pulled her back, and
stabbed her to death.
“They took liquor out of the fridge and tried putting her lifeless body inside the fridge, but it could not fit. The daughter witnessed
the incident but could not help due to her condition. They took the liquor and
went back to where they planned the murder and told the witnesses that they killed her.”
He said they then offered them the liquor they
stole from the deceased’s house.
According to Tyali the witnesses alerted other
community members who apprehended the accused and handed them over to the
police.
