Durban — The widow of a Durban metro police officer, who allegedly hired a hitman to kill her husband, has indicated that she and her co-accused want to plead in the matter.
This emerged on Thursday in the Durban High Court where the pair appeared alongside their co-accused, a school principal who will not be making any admissions, which could see a separation of trial play out.
Metro police Captain Zwelakhe Thomas Ntombela, 50, was shot and killed in his uMlazi home by hitman Mandlenkosi Mzo Ntombela, who was allegedly hired by his wife Faith Ntombela, 43, an uMlazi court employee, in April last year.
Mzo was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment last August by the Durban High Court. He later disclosed information about the identity of the individual sent to kill Captain Ntombela.
Faith is alleged to have been assisted by her co-accused, iMpumlana Primary School principal Sithembiso Justice Khumalo, 53, in finding a hitman to kill her husband.
Khumalo allegedly connected Faith and their other co-accused, Khulekani Cele, 45, who is incarcerated at Ebongweni C-Max prison in Kokstad for murder. Cele, from KwaMaphumulo, is allegedly a dangerous hitman, who organises hitmen for criminals while he is in jail.
It’s alleged that before the incident, she began a romantic relationship with Cele. At some stage, she requested Cele, Khumalo and others to murder her husband in exchange for money and a Suzuki.
The matter had been set for a pretrial conference on Thursday. In court, senior State prosecutor Krishen Shah said the defence for Faith had indicated that after consultation instructions were that the accused wanted to tender a statement in respect of all counts.
“Indications are the defence just needs to put together the document and then the state can decide after seeing it if it accepts the facts. Indications are also that accused two (Cele) wants to expedite proceedings and plead but not on all counts,” said Shah.
Cele is to be requisitioned back to the court today (Friday) for further consultation in preparation for his plea.
All three accused are charged with murder and two counts of the Contravention of the Fire Arms Controls Act.
Faith alone is additionally charged with two counts of theft and defeating the ends of justice, and theft of her husband’s gun which she allegedly handed over to kill her husband.
Shah told the court Khumalo’s defence received instructions that the principal would not be making admissions, to which Judge Jacqueline Henriques said this meant there might be an application for separation of trial.
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