The man accused of killing Chumani Nqakula‚ the son of defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and former minister Charles Nqakula‚ will have his fitness to stand trial tested.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday granted the application by Carlos Higuera’s lawyers to have him referred for 30 days of psychiatric observation.
Higuera‚ 24‚ was expected to apply for bail on Wednesday but instead the court was told that he has a history of mental illness and may not be fit to stand trial. He abandoned his bail application for now.
Higuera allegedly stabbed Nqakula‚ 23‚ in the chest in Bezuidenhout Valley‚ Johannesburg‚ on Saturday. Nqakula was declared dead at the scene.
Higuera previously told the court that he knew Nqakula.
Defence advocate Jabulani Maluleke told the court that Higuera has had mental health problems since 2010.
Magistrate Albertus Roux said he would grant the defence’s application to have Higuera’s mental fitness assessed for 30 days.
Higuera remains in custody and will be held in a prison medical wing until he can be referred to a psychiatric hospital. He returns to court next week.
Mental state of Nqakula murder accused to be probed
The man accused of killing Chumani Nqakula‚ the son of defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and former minister Charles Nqakula‚ will have his fitness to stand trial tested.
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday granted the application by Carlos Higuera’s lawyers to have him referred for 30 days of psychiatric observation.
Higuera‚ 24‚ was expected to apply for bail on Wednesday but instead the court was told that he has a history of mental illness and may not be fit to stand trial. He abandoned his bail application for now.
Higuera allegedly stabbed Nqakula‚ 23‚ in the chest in Bezuidenhout Valley‚ Johannesburg‚ on Saturday. Nqakula was declared dead at the scene.
Higuera previously told the court that he knew Nqakula.
Defence advocate Jabulani Maluleke told the court that Higuera has had mental health problems since 2010.
Magistrate Albertus Roux said he would grant the defence’s application to have Higuera’s mental fitness assessed for 30 days.
Higuera remains in custody and will be held in a prison medical wing until he can be referred to a psychiatric hospital. He returns to court next week.
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