Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

Mark Scott-Crossley, the man involved in the 'lion murder case', has had his case of assault postponed again by the Barberton magistrate's court.

Scott-Crossley was sentenced to life while his accomplice, Simon Mathebula, was sentenced to 14 years for the murder of farm worker Nelson Chisale in 2002.

This time he is charged with assaulting a fellow prisoner at the Nelspruit Prison. The alleged assault of Jacobus Cordier took place on December 9 2006. The case was yesterday postponed to February 21. Scott-Crossley, 40, was found guilty of murdering Chisale, a former employee. Chisale had gone to Scott-Crossley's farm in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa to collect his pots and pans. This after Scott-Crossley had dismissed him from his employ.

Chisale was assaulted with pangas and other weapons, tied with wires and thrown onto the back of Scott-Crossley's bakkie. He was later thrown into a lion enclosure where he was mauled by the hungry animals.

At the beginning of the 'lion murder trial' in the Phalaborwa High Court, one of the suspects in the matter, Robert Mnisi, turned state witness.

Scott-Crossley, together with Mathebula and Richard Mathebula, who was not related to Simon, were charged with the murder. Robert, however, could not attend the trial due to ill-health. He has since died.