Bester, Magudumana back in court for pre-trial conference
Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester is expected to appear in the Free State High Court on Wednesday for his pre-trial conference.
The Facebook rapist will appear alongside his nine co-accused implicated in his escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on May 3, 2022.
Katlego Bereng’s body was allegedly used as a decoy after it was snuck into the privately-run facility, and then later set alight in Bester’s cell.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the murder charge early in the case.
Bester will appear alongside his medical doctor lover Nandipha Magudumana, her father Zolile Sekeleni, Frans Makhotsa, Zanda Moyo, Senohe Matsoara, Buti Masukela, Teboho Lipholo and Joel Maketha.
In October last year, the state withdrew charges against for G4S employees Nastassja Jansen, Thabang Mier and Moeketsi Mooketsi Ramolula.
On the same day, Magudumana failed to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court after she reportedly collapsed while waiting in the holding cells at the Park Road Police Station.
At the time, Magistrate Estelle de Lange warned the six accused who are out on bail to present themselves in relevant court.
“The date will be 21 February 2024. Accused number four [Nandipha Magudumana], five [Thabo Bester], and nine [Zanda Moyo] are in custody. Accused number one, two, three, six, seven, and eleven are on bail. The accused that are on bail are warned to be at the court…at 08:30 am.”
Bester made a daring escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
He was thought to have died when a fire broke out in his cell, but it emerged that it was a ploy to help him escape from custody.
In April 2023, Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Arusha, Tanazania.
After making his first few appearances virtually, Bester joined Magudumana and his other co-accused in the dock in August last year.
The two sat next to each other, causing a stir on social media when making soft, caring gestures towards one another.
Bester is being kept under strict surveillance at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Tshwane, while Magudumana has since tried and failed to get bail.
She remains in custody at the Kokstad Prison in KwaZulu-Natal.
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