Staff Reporter.
Ntuthuko Shoba, the former JSE analyst standing trial for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Tshegofatso Pule, wants to launch a third bail application with a new defence team, the South Gauteng High Court heard on Friday morning.
He has brought two failed bail applications so far, and alleges that the man already serving a 20-year prison term for Pule’s murder,Mzukayise Malephane, is sending him threatening messages.
During his brief appearance on Friday, Shoba informed the court that he would launch a new bail application through his new legal team.
It emerged on Tuesday that Shoba’s previous lawyer, Shaddy Sithole, had withdrawn from the case.
The matter has been set down for trial in the high court on October 4.
Pule was eight months pregnant when she was found murdered, hanging from a tree, in June last year. The prosecution has led evidence that her unborn child was Shoba’s.
It was unclear on Friday when the fresh bail application would be launched.
Meanwhile the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that it was ready to proceed with the Tshegofatso Pule murder trial.
He’s been charged with a schedule 6 offence of premeditated murder.
The NPA’s Phindi Mjonodwane said that they had completed all their investigations and were ready to begin with the trial.
“We are ready to proceed with the trial as the State and we have already disclosed the contents of the docket to the defence team.”
Pule’s family is hoping that there’ll be no delays when the trial begins on 4 October, saying that they want justice.