Sindisiwe Manqele‚ who has been convicted of murdering her rapper boyfriend‚ Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi‚ will explore the possibility of appealing after she has been sentenced.
Defence advocate Norman Makhubela said this on Thursday as Manqele applied for bail in the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
Manqele‚ 26‚ was granted bail of R5000 and will return to court on March 9‚ exactly a year after she stabbed Habedi.
The amount is in addition to the R10000 bail she was granted after her initial arrest.
Manqele stabbed Habedi‚ 37‚ in the chest on March 9 in his Alexandra‚ Johannesburg‚ home. She pleaded not guilty to murder‚ saying she acted in self-defence.
On Wednesday‚ Judge Solly Sithole found Manqele guilty of murder‚ ruling that her actions were premeditated because she admitted to stabbing Habedi intentionally. He said she exceeded the limits of self-defence.
On Thursday‚ Makhubela asked the court for a postponement to prepare for sentencing proceedings and to allow Manqele to consult with expert witnesses the defence intends to call in mitigation of sentence.
Arguing for bail to be granted‚ Makhubela said that his client was not a flight risk and had attended court proceedings throughout the trial.
He said that Manqele‚ whose father died four weeks ago‚ had to do a cleansing ceremony at her Kempton Park home and she would need to be present as she is the only surviving member of the family.
“She [Manqele] has been receiving counselling and has been using tranquilisers on and off. The passing of her father has also not been easy for her‚” Makhubela said.
Prosecutor Paul Schutte opposed bail‚ saying that Manqele could still receive counselling in prison and would be given treatment when necessary.
Schutte argued that Manqele struggled with emotional stress and was likely to commit suicide as she had attempted to kill herself after she stabbed Habedi. He said she could be monitored in prison.
But Sithole granted her bail coupled with strict conditions‚ including that she may not leave her Kempton Park home without the permission of the investigating officer.
She must also wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. She will continue to report to the police every Monday and Friday.
Manqele’s lawyer Siphile Buthelezi said after proceedings that Manqele was shocked by the murder conviction but understood that she had some options‚ such as appealing.
Habedi’s mother‚ Agatha‚ said she was not concerned about Manqele getting bail because she had already been convicted of the murder of her son.
She said her family would have a better Christmas knowing Manqele has been found guilty. — TMG Digital/TMG Courts and Law
Manqele to consider appealing 'Flabba' murder conviction
Sindisiwe Manqele‚ who has been convicted of murdering her rapper boyfriend‚ Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi‚ will explore the possibility of appealing after she has been sentenced.
Defence advocate Norman Makhubela said this on Thursday as Manqele applied for bail in the Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
Manqele‚ 26‚ was granted bail of R5000 and will return to court on March 9‚ exactly a year after she stabbed Habedi.
The amount is in addition to the R10000 bail she was granted after her initial arrest.
Manqele stabbed Habedi‚ 37‚ in the chest on March 9 in his Alexandra‚ Johannesburg‚ home. She pleaded not guilty to murder‚ saying she acted in self-defence.
On Wednesday‚ Judge Solly Sithole found Manqele guilty of murder‚ ruling that her actions were premeditated because she admitted to stabbing Habedi intentionally. He said she exceeded the limits of self-defence.
On Thursday‚ Makhubela asked the court for a postponement to prepare for sentencing proceedings and to allow Manqele to consult with expert witnesses the defence intends to call in mitigation of sentence.
Arguing for bail to be granted‚ Makhubela said that his client was not a flight risk and had attended court proceedings throughout the trial.
He said that Manqele‚ whose father died four weeks ago‚ had to do a cleansing ceremony at her Kempton Park home and she would need to be present as she is the only surviving member of the family.
“She [Manqele] has been receiving counselling and has been using tranquilisers on and off. The passing of her father has also not been easy for her‚” Makhubela said.
Prosecutor Paul Schutte opposed bail‚ saying that Manqele could still receive counselling in prison and would be given treatment when necessary.
Schutte argued that Manqele struggled with emotional stress and was likely to commit suicide as she had attempted to kill herself after she stabbed Habedi. He said she could be monitored in prison.
But Sithole granted her bail coupled with strict conditions‚ including that she may not leave her Kempton Park home without the permission of the investigating officer.
She must also wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. She will continue to report to the police every Monday and Friday.
Manqele’s lawyer Siphile Buthelezi said after proceedings that Manqele was shocked by the murder conviction but understood that she had some options‚ such as appealing.
Habedi’s mother‚ Agatha‚ said she was not concerned about Manqele getting bail because she had already been convicted of the murder of her son.
She said her family would have a better Christmas knowing Manqele has been found guilty. — TMG Digital/TMG Courts and Law
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