Three abandon bail application in decapitation case

Three of the accused are minors, who initially indicated they would plead guilty to the charges against them. Last Monday, they informed the court that they intended to plead not guilty.

 

Traditional healer Sivonkaliso Mbili and his assistant Vusumuzi Gumede, who were linked to the murder, have not yet pleaded.
Mbili and Gumede were originally scheduled to apply for bail on Monday, but when proceedings started, it was only the three minors who appeared.

 

Their lawyer immediately told the court that one of the minors was abandoning their bail application.

 

The three minors cannot be named or identified.

 

Earlier this month, Falakhe Khumalo, 18, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the death of Desiree Murugan, whose body was found by municipal workers on August 18.

 

Khumalo claimed he was promised R2 million in June 2013 for the head of a white, Indian or coloured woman by Mbili, who he claims cured him of a sexually transmitted disease.

 

He said he and the minors lured Murugan to the stadium, where he paid her R100 for sex.

 

Khumalo said one of the minors stabbed her several times before the woman's head was cut off.

 

They took the head to Mbili, who allegedly dissected the head and ordered Gumede to bury the tongue and brain in tins behind Mbili's house.

 

(File Photo: Gallo Images)