The Mpumalanga High Court sitting in Mbombela has provisionally withdrawn the charges against for men charged with murder of Hillary Gardee. This is after the prosecution told the court that their key witness to the matter was not found. The murder trial had kicked off from yesterday 11 April.
The case was provisionally withdrawn meaning that the accused people will be set free, at least for now. Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo told the accused men that withdrawal of the case doesnt mean that the case is over or they have been acquitted. Suspects Philemon Lukhele, Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa, Mduduzi Albert Gama and Hlabirwa Rassie Nkune were arrested in connection with the murder of Hillary Gardee.
Hillary, the daughter of the former EFF’s secretary general Godrich Gardee went missing on 29 April 2022. His body was later found dumped in a bushy area just outside Mbombela on the 3rd of May. A police investigation led to the arrest of the four suspects in connection with the murder. Hillary was found with a bullet hole on her head.
After the court announced that decision, Godrich took to Twitter and posted the picture of her daughter. The message reads:””A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down & thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits” #RIPHillaryGardee We have a failed state that must be removed from power….!” https://twitter.com/GardeeGodrich/status/1646084549942599683?s=20