Five years later: Bester prison escape trial set for April 2027
Bester’s lawyers told the court they are struggling to get access to their client
Nearly five years after a prison escape and four years after his rearrest, Thabo Bester and six others stand trial for the escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022. Bester, accused of the rape and murder of a teenage girl, is joined by Nandipha Magudumana and others in the court proceedings. Initially set for February 2025, the trial was repeatedly postponed due to various issues, most recently to April 2027.
Bester's legal team, led by Advocate MoAfrika Wa Maila, cited challenges in consulting with their client due to correctional service restrictions. The trial, originally scheduled for Bloemfontein's Free State High Court, now faces further case management hearings. Magudumana's legal representative, Machini Motloung, is also seeking a separate hearing to address her own constitutional matter.
Despite bail extensions for the other co-accused, Bester and Magudumana remain in custody for the duration of the trial.
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