A KwaZulu- Natal pastor who is alleged to have planned the killing of an albino woman for muthi, told the Mtubatuba Magistrate's Court that he has financial problems.
Archbishop Bhekukufa Gumede of New Star Church in Zion appeared briefly in court and his attorney was not there as he had not paid him.
"His trial was set for two weeks beginning yesterday, but his private attorney was unavailable to take instructions from him," said investigating officer, Warrant Officer Simphiwe Mlotshwa.
"He complained of not having sufficient money to cover his legal costs. The matter was adjourned to next week to afford the accused time to seek state legal aid."
Gumede, 65, from Manguzi village in the Umkhanyakude district was remanded in custody.
He is facing murder charges after he allegedly hired two men and a teenager to hunt down the woman, kill her and remove her body parts.
Gumede is alleged to have solicited the services of Mandla Mabuza, 19, Lindokuhle Khumalo, 19, and Siyabonga Gwala, 18, to search for an albino woman's body parts.
The man of the cloth allegedly gave the three strict instructions that the body parts he needed should be that of an albino woman.
The victim, Thandazile Mpunzi, 20, went missing on August 5 2015 from Escabazini village near the Mozambican border and was found dead a week later.
Her mutilated body was found without the head and arms.
Gumede is alleged to have removed the body parts himself before he was joined by the trio to bury Mpunzi .
He allegedly told the youths that he needed the body parts to create a concoction of wealth.
Mabuza and Khumalo were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Vryheid Circuit Court in September last year for killing Mpunzi.
They have turned state witnesses and testified that Gumede was the mastermind.
Gwala is still undergoing trial. He was 17 when he allegedly committed the crime.
'Poor' pastor delays albino murder trial
A KwaZulu- Natal pastor who is alleged to have planned the killing of an albino woman for muthi, told the Mtubatuba Magistrate's Court that he has financial problems.
Archbishop Bhekukufa Gumede of New Star Church in Zion appeared briefly in court and his attorney was not there as he had not paid him.
"His trial was set for two weeks beginning yesterday, but his private attorney was unavailable to take instructions from him," said investigating officer, Warrant Officer Simphiwe Mlotshwa.
"He complained of not having sufficient money to cover his legal costs. The matter was adjourned to next week to afford the accused time to seek state legal aid."
Gumede, 65, from Manguzi village in the Umkhanyakude district was remanded in custody.
He is facing murder charges after he allegedly hired two men and a teenager to hunt down the woman, kill her and remove her body parts.
Gumede is alleged to have solicited the services of Mandla Mabuza, 19, Lindokuhle Khumalo, 19, and Siyabonga Gwala, 18, to search for an albino woman's body parts.
The man of the cloth allegedly gave the three strict instructions that the body parts he needed should be that of an albino woman.
The victim, Thandazile Mpunzi, 20, went missing on August 5 2015 from Escabazini village near the Mozambican border and was found dead a week later.
Her mutilated body was found without the head and arms.
Gumede is alleged to have removed the body parts himself before he was joined by the trio to bury Mpunzi .
He allegedly told the youths that he needed the body parts to create a concoction of wealth.
Mabuza and Khumalo were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Vryheid Circuit Court in September last year for killing Mpunzi.
They have turned state witnesses and testified that Gumede was the mastermind.
Gwala is still undergoing trial. He was 17 when he allegedly committed the crime.
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