MBOMBELA – Law enforcement officer, Abednigo Desmond Mbuyane says he acted out of anger and fears for his life when he shot a man he found with his wife at Kwanyoni Lodge.
He made his third appearance in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court for bail application after being charged for the murder of a traffic inspector, Thamsanqa Nkosi on Saturday, April 15.
In an affidavit read by his attorney, it stated that he intends to plead not guilty during trial because the shooting was not premeditated.
According to the affidavit, on the day of the incident, Mbuyane who is employed by the City of Mbombela when he called his wife, said he needed to see her urgently and was not picking up his calls.
“When I arrived at the lodge, I called her and she said she was coming out. I then kicked the door open and was confronted by the deceased.
“As we fought, I saw him putting his hand under his shirt. I thought he was taking out a weapon and that is when I pulled the one I had since I was on standby,” reads the affidavit.
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He pleaded to be released on bail to get professional psychological counseling because he felt depressed and he is losing his mind as he is placed in a separate cell from the other inmates and has nobody to talk to.
The investigating officer’s explanation of how Mbuyane is linked to the murder revealed that the deceased was shot from the back as he sustained wounds on the back of his head and on the shoulder.
Investigating officer, Warrant Officer Albert De Lange opposed bail. His reasons included that he poses as a danger to society as he did not hesitate to pull the trigger on the day. Attempting to evade trial, attempt to influence witnesses or destroying evidence were other factors De Lange mentioned.
“If the accused is granted bail, it will undermine the objectivity of the criminal justice’s function and the public will lose faith in the system. For his safety, he should be kept in custody while he receives the necessary psychological support from correctional services. Investigations continue but I oppose bail.”
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The matter was postponed to Tuesday, May 2.
