A state pathologist accused of stealing the brain, heart and lungs from a dead body is facing rearrest after the Kempton Park Regional Court issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday.
Magistrate C Mhlari issued a provisional warrant of arrest against Dr James Blair Mwesigwa, a specialist forensic pathologist, after he failed to appear for the start of his trial.
Mwesigwa is accused of stealing and retaining certain organs from the body of Alida Scheepers on October 24, 2013, at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Laboratory in Soweto where he was employed.
It is alleged he removed and stole Scheepers's entire brain, tongue, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, trachea, both lungs, heart and pericardial sac and part of the diaphragm.
Mwesigwa is also facing charges of violating a body, defeating and obstructing the administration of justice, contravening regulations relating to the use of human biological material, contravening regulations regarding the control of human bodies, tissue, blood, blood products and gametes, and contravening regulations regarding the rendering of forensic pathology services.
He resigned from this job in March this year after drawing a salary of R1.54-million for sitting at home for 17 months while he was on suspension.
Prosecutor Riana Williams accused Mwesigwa and his lawyer, Paul Samuels, of applying delaying tactics.
A copy of Mwesigwa's medical report which stated that he was ill was then presented to the court.
Williams said Mwesigwa was previously warned to be present in court.
"The medical report is suspicious because he is off sick from November 3 until November 9 and another medical review is expected on November 6. This medical report does not apply," said Williams.
Samuels argued he could not disclose what his client was suffering from as it was against the law. He denied that Mwesigwa was delaying the trial and requested to visit the crime scene.
"Her (Williams') suspicion, no matter how strong it is, remains a suspicion," said Samuels.
"Obviously, my client could not fax his original certificate. It will be provided during the next appearance.
"We are not going there (crime scene) for fancy reasons. As his attorney, I must be able to access the mortuary, access where the laboratory is, where he performed the post-mortem.
"We want to have access at the mortuary to make observations which are central for our defence."
ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
Medic wanted over body parts
A state pathologist accused of stealing the brain, heart and lungs from a dead body is facing rearrest after the Kempton Park Regional Court issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday.
Magistrate C Mhlari issued a provisional warrant of arrest against Dr James Blair Mwesigwa, a specialist forensic pathologist, after he failed to appear for the start of his trial.
Mwesigwa is accused of stealing and retaining certain organs from the body of Alida Scheepers on October 24, 2013, at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Laboratory in Soweto where he was employed.
It is alleged he removed and stole Scheepers's entire brain, tongue, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, trachea, both lungs, heart and pericardial sac and part of the diaphragm.
Mwesigwa is also facing charges of violating a body, defeating and obstructing the administration of justice, contravening regulations relating to the use of human biological material, contravening regulations regarding the control of human bodies, tissue, blood, blood products and gametes, and contravening regulations regarding the rendering of forensic pathology services.
He resigned from this job in March this year after drawing a salary of R1.54-million for sitting at home for 17 months while he was on suspension.
Prosecutor Riana Williams accused Mwesigwa and his lawyer, Paul Samuels, of applying delaying tactics.
A copy of Mwesigwa's medical report which stated that he was ill was then presented to the court.
Williams said Mwesigwa was previously warned to be present in court.
"The medical report is suspicious because he is off sick from November 3 until November 9 and another medical review is expected on November 6. This medical report does not apply," said Williams.
Samuels argued he could not disclose what his client was suffering from as it was against the law. He denied that Mwesigwa was delaying the trial and requested to visit the crime scene.
"Her (Williams') suspicion, no matter how strong it is, remains a suspicion," said Samuels.
"Obviously, my client could not fax his original certificate. It will be provided during the next appearance.
"We are not going there (crime scene) for fancy reasons. As his attorney, I must be able to access the mortuary, access where the laboratory is, where he performed the post-mortem.
"We want to have access at the mortuary to make observations which are central for our defence."
ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
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