Jeppestown 13 plead 'not guilty'

2008-01-30 14:16

Johannesburg - After all 13 people implicated in the Jeppestown massacre had pleaded not guilty to all the charges put to them on Wednesday, the trial settled into the task of admitting vast amounts of evidence into the court records.

Earlier, the woman and 12 men elected to remain silent on the 23 charges they face collectively - except for one man who said he had an alibi for the robbery that led to the final shootout.

Zinto Mqunu claims to have been at home in Benrose, opposite the George Goch hostel.

He claims that he later went to the house in 54 Mordaunt street, Jeppestown, where the final shootout occurred, to wait for a traditional healer.

Regarding the events after that, he chose to remain silent.

The woman, Mary Maleke, an employee at the Honeydew Pick 'n Pay, which the group allegedly robbed, and two men, Senzo Mweli and Mzamo Mchunu, are accused of conspiring to rob the supermarket at Honey Junction.

Restrained with ankle chains, cuffs

They are accused of the attempted murder of security guard Obert Tshivhinda - who was shot as he tried to run away as a gang arrived in at least six vehicles.

Johannes van der Merwe, a shopper, was also shot and injured after he had been frisked for items to steal.

The remainder of the accused are charged with the murder of four policemen, the attempted murder of three policewomen and one policeman and are also being made to account for the death of eight people believed to be robbers.

Their murder, attempted murder and possession of firearm charges relate to a stand-off with police who had gone to the house after apprehending one man believed to have been part of the supermarket robbery.

After their pleas were entered, prosecutor Joanie Spies handed a set of lever arch files to the judge and his two assessors and read through the lengthy list of evidence, which included photographs, items seized, medical and autopsy reports, and descriptions of firearms.

While Spies read through the file, the group - most of whom are restrained with ankle chains and cuffs - listened intently while heavily-armed policemen guarded all the doors.

The trial was adjourned until 14:00.

- SAPA