“I had no reason to commit murder” – accused spouse pleaded

EMALAHLENI – “I had no reason to commit murder,” accused spouse pleaded, Mabojane Patricia Kutu.

The second accused in the murder of late TRT member, Joseph Kutu, where she appeared in court on Thursday, 7 January for bail application.

In her plea, through her legal representative, she stated police did not find her in possession of a firearm or any ammunition. But was terrified on the night of the murder that she fled to her neighbours seeking help.

READ |Wife and accomplice remanded in custody for murder

She further disclosed that she was not a flight risk. She is well-known in her community and said she would not flee.

A bail application by the widow of the deceased Joseph Kutu also arrested with two other suspects, Xolani Peter Ndabezitha, third accused and Vincent Bonginkosi Langa, number one accused, both of who abandoned their bail applications.

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The court ordered they remanded in custody after their arrest on 16 December 2021. In July 2021, the suspects colluded to kill Kutu at his home in Vosman.

Patricia, also a Court Interpreter and her accomplice Vincent Bongonkosi, were arrested on 14 and 16 December, 2021.

The suspects fatally shot the late Sergeant Joseph Christopher Kutu of Witbank Tactical Response Team in his house in July. They remanded 2021, and the accused in custody by the Emalahleni Magistrate Court on Tuesday 21 December 2021.

READ MORE |SGB chairperson to appear at Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder

On Tuesday 14 December 2021, intelligence-driven information was received about the whereabouts of the suspect, who was wanted for a house robbery and murder of the police officer. The operation was conducted at a house in Siyabuswa A. The suspect was found and arrested in the back room of the house where he was renting. The suspect was arrested and detained for further investigation.

During further investigation, the wife of the late police officer was linked and arrested on Thursday 16 December 2021. They remanded the case to 28 December 2021 for further bail application. The suspect remains in custody.

The court postponed the bail hearing for Kutu to Tuesday 11 January 2021 after lengthy deliberations between the prosecution and her defence attorney.

MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe attended the bail hearing on a TRT member’s murder case, whereby he addressed members of the community from mainly Vosman, calling out for justice for the deceased.

Shongwe said: “I’m happy for your support of the police officer’s death at the hands of criminals from the community. You must continue defending the police to decrease crime in society.”

By Bongani Hlatshwayo