Killer nurse waits to hear fate
2006-11-28 09:02
Nkosana ka Makaula and Oris Mnisi
Bushbuckridge - A nurse who injected her stepson with HIV-contaminated blood when he was four-years-old will spend Christmas at home because her sentencing was postponed again on Monday.
The nurse, who can't be named to protect the identity of the boy, who is now seven, was meant to be sentenced in the Mhala regional court after being found guilty of attempted murder.
But her lawyer, Douw Labuschagne, arrived at court three hours late and said that he needed even more time to study the case - apparently the same excuse he had last time.
The magistrate, Victor Mathebula, told Labuschagne to stop wasting the court's time.
"This will be the last postponement of this case. Too much time has been wasted on this case, and I will not tolerate your tactics," he said.
Sentencing was then postponed to February 6.
Mpumalanga MEC for Health and Social Services, Pogisho Pasha, had also attended the case and his spokesperson, Mpho Gabashane, said the politician was disappointed by the delay.
"Naturally, the MEC is disappointed with this delay, but the court's decision means that she will be given a fair chance to defend herself. We accept the court's decision," said Gabashane.
The nurse, who worked at Matikwane hospital at the time of the incident, had pleaded not guilty and is out on R1 500 bail.
The boy, who now has HIV, previously testified that his stepmother had injected him with a "red liquid" when he was visiting her and his father in August 2003.
The nurse now works at Cunningmore clinic.
- African Eye