Bail amounting to R10 000 has been set for Sindisiwe Manqele (26) who is the sole accused in the murder of Hip Hop artist, Nkululeko ‘Flabba’ Habedi (38). Manqele was arrested at the scene, on the morning of the 9th of March 2015. Manqele’s bail was granted at the Alexandra Magistrate’s court.
Amanda Vilakazi, Manqele’s lawyer told the court that the accused is suffering from physical injuries and is not a flight risk. Vilakazi also assured the court that Manqele (who is a student in Dublin, Ireland) would hand over her passport to the police.
Last week, according to a witness, Manqele had tried to commit suicide after realising that her lover has died after one fatal stab wound to the heart. Police disputed the above claim, saying that Manqele did not try to kill herself. However, Vilakazi described that act as an emotional reaction to seeing her (Manqele) lover die. Vilakazi also urged the court not to be “swayed by the court of public opinion.” The state had opposed the bail stating that Manqele is a danger to herself, and also listing intimidation of witness and public uproar as the reason for opposing bail.
Manqele pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, saying that she acted in self-defence. After Manqele’s last appearance in court, a family member of the deceased artist claimed that the injuries that Manqele had shown to the court were self-inflicted. Manqele appeared to have wounds on both her arms and stomach. A medical report presented to the court this morning stated that Manqele had suffered multiple soft tissue injuries. The magistrate granted Manqele bail on the grounds that there was no evidence to support the claim that Manqele had interfered with witnesses and concluded that her injuries “are too extensive to all be self-inflicted.”
The case has been postponed to the 13th of May 2015.
