Professional Update
A
monthly newsletter for KZN Attorneys from the Kwazulu-Natal Law Society

1 June 2009

This professional service draws attention to current and important items of news
 and members are directed to the hosts' websites

InfoUpdate 11 of 2009
Recent Judgments

Electronic copies of this information may be obtained from our librarians at help@lawlibrary.co.za or click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

Free State High Court : Bloemfontein - www.uovs.ac.za/fac/law/highcourt/  ; http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAFSHC/

Lynne Hume Case

Kunene forged signatures, court hears - 5 May
All 30 signatures on an affidavit alleged to have been written by the late Superintendent Zethembe Chonco were forgeries and had been copied, cut and pasted from another document. This evidence by hand-writing expert, Senior Superintendent Marthinus du Toit, backs up the state's case that it was Muziwendoda Kunene - said to be the mastermind in the kidnapping and murder of Ballito estate agent, Lynne Hume - who had penned the affidavit and not Chonco, prosecutor Amanda Bester told the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein on Monday. -
IOL website

Slain cop's signature queried in Hume case - 4 May
The murder trial of IT consultant Muziwendoda Kunene in the high court here was postponed yesterday for legal counsel to prepare their final arguments. Judge M H  Rampai put off the matter to May 11. -
The Witness website

Kunene trial enters final stage - 11 May
The State on Monday started its final arguments in the murder trial of IT consultant Muziwendoda Kunene in the High Court in Bloemfontein. The case was held up for most of the day for the court to decide whether Kunene should get an opportunity to reopen his defence. Judge M H Rampai had previously refused an application by Kunene to reopen his defence. On Monday he however overturned this decision after the parties had met in chambers last week. -
IOL website

Judgment reserved in Kunene murder trial - 13 May
The High Court in Bloemfontein on Wednesday reserved judgment in the murder trial of IT consultant Muziwendoda Kunene. Judge M H Rampai postponed the case to May 26 for judgment. -
IOL website

Court rejects Kunene alibi - 26 May
The High Court in Bloemfontein on Tuesday rejected the alibi of IT consultant Muziwendoda Kunene who faces charges of murder, kidnapping and fraud. Delivering judgment Judge MH Rampai dismissed Kunene’s defence that he was in Pretoria when the crimes were committed. Rampai said it was highly improbable that so many witnesses who saw Kunene in Ballito on October 19, would have made a mistake about the identification of one person who was allegedly hundreds of kilometres away. Delivering judgment on the fraud charge, Rampai held that the State had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Kunene committed fraud involving a cheque for R637 350. The court held that the evidence given by eyewitnesses who saw Kunene on October 19, and other supporting evidence, "nullified" the conspiracy theory Kunene used in his defence. The judgment continues. - The Times website

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society