Decision on Saat trial 'soon'
2003-11-12 20:12
Johannesburg - The final argument in the jurisdiction hearing of Israeli national Lior Saat, who is charged with murdering diamond merchant Shai Avissar, is expected in Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.
Avissar was the estranged husband of socialite Hazel Crane who was shot dead in Abbotsford, Johannesburg, on Monday.
She was on her way to court where she was to have been a witness against Saat.
Saat is contesting the jurisdiction of Johannesburg High Court to try him, claiming he was kidnapped at the Mozambican border by police and brought to South Africa illegally.
The chief immigration officer at the Lebombo border post between Maputo and Komatiepoort, Johan Schreiber, spent Wednesday in the witness box.
He gave the court details about the layout of the border post.
On Monday a police witness said Saat was arrested on the South African side of the border after being deported from Mozambique because his visa had expired.
Third witness 'eliminated'
If the court rules in favour of a trial, Saat will face 13 charges, including murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and kidnapping.
The death of Crane on Monday made her the third potential witness against Saat to be eliminated.
Media reports say Julio Bascelli and Carlo Binne were killed in Mozambique shortly before Saat's arrest in April 2001.
Avissar disappeared mysteriously during October 1999, and his decomposing body was found three months later in a shallow grave on a smallholding near Pretoria.
He was apparently beaten to death in Sunninghill east of Johannesburg.
The hearing was due to continue on Thursday.
- SAPA