The docket is ready, the witnesses are lined up, and a trial date has been set for a man who allegedly hired a hitman to kill his adopted disabled daughter so that he could cash in her life policy.
Murder accused Mboneli Msila, 55, of Plettenberg Bay, appeared briefly in the Knysna High Court on Thursday, where his case was postponed to May 5 2025.
Msila is accused of hiring a hitman to kill the teenage girl in April 2022 so that he could pocket the R200,000 payout.
Nosipo Mfana, 15, was shot 15 times.
Pretrial proceedings which started two weeks ago have since wrapped up, and on Thursday the court heard that the matter was finally trial ready.
Msila faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the state, on the evening of April 30 2022, two men forcefully gained access to a home in Cuba Street, Kwanokuthula, in Plettenberg Bay.
One of the two men was armed with a firearm.
Nosipo had been asleep on a mattress in the dining area when she was shot in her chest, abdomen, lower body and arms.
The two other occupants in the house were unharmed and nothing was stolen.
The accused and his wife had adopted the girl at the age of 13 because her mother was no longer able to care for her.
It is alleged that Msila had offered the hitman R40,000 to kill the girl.
Msila’s nephew, Mbulelo Jack, Lungisile Lucas and Monde Tshemese were arrested shortly after the incident. Msila was arrested more than a year later.
According to the state, one of the alleged hitmen has confessed to having been approached by Msila to kill the teenager.
Msila, according to the state, was one of the direct beneficiaries of a life policy which had been taken out on the deceased in his favour.
He stood to gain R200,000.
HeraldLIVE
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