Lawyer spurns 'lying' clients
2007-04-12 21:31
Nelspruit - A Legal Aid lawyer has refused to continue representing three suspected burglars because they keep telling her different stories.
Rhifhiwa Tshikororo of the Legal Aid Board told Nelspruit regional court this week that it was "impossible for me to proceed under such circumstances".
She was representing three men accused of robbing the Mdluli family, which won a land claim on Mataffin farm outside Nelspruit where a 2010 soccer stadium is being built.
The accused are Aaron Mashaba, 33, and Elvis Theko, 31, of Mataffin, and Robert Lamola, 25, of Numbi near White River. They have pleaded not guilty.
Stolen goods were on sale
Mashaba and Theko worked for the Mdlulis at the time the items were stolen on January 5.
The stolen items include five brush cutters, a chainsaw, boots, a kettle, and five helmets all valued at R30 550.
The three were arrested when word spread that stolen items were up for sale in Mataffin village.
Mashaba and Theko are out on R2 000 bail, while Lamola is in custody because he couldn't raise bail.
The court will appoint a new lawyer to represent them and they will appear again on April 17.