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C-Max escape-bid trial on hold
08/05/2007 19:03 - (SA)
Pretoria - A prison warder and three prisoners alleged to have been involved in a failed escape bid that led to the death of two top officials at Pretoria's high-security C-Max Prison in 2004 will go on trial in the High Court in November.
Judge Johan Els postponed the trial of prison warder Herman Makhubela and life sentence-serving prisoners Freddy Teane, Thabo Phofedi and Patrick Mabuse to November 6.
Heavily armed members of the police and Correctional Services guarded the court during the men's brief appearance on Tuesday.
C-Max prison head Sam Gomba and acting area co-ordinator Ben Ndinisa were shot dead during the foiled escape, which also saw a prisoner kill another inmate and himself.
Several warders were robbed of their clothes and cellphones during the escape bid.
The firearm used in the breakout allegedly was taken from a man in KwaMhlanga.
Makhubela, who is out on bail, faces two charges of murder and five charges of helping the three prisoners and two other inmates to escape and supplying them with a firearm.
Fit to stand trial
The State alleges that Makhubela was promised a minibus as payment for his assistance in the escape.
The three prisoners face charges of murder, escaping from custody, kidnapping, robbery and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The court heard previously that Teane, who was referred for psychiatric observation, had not suffered from any mental illness at the time of the alleged escape bid and was fit to stand trial.
His defence counsel applied for a postponement after being unable to consult fully with Teane and possible further witnesses.
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