Cat Matlala trial: Hospital staff feared plot to help Musa Kekana escape
Hospital staff feared someone was coming to help murder accused Musa Kekana escape from his ward after his arrest, so much so that they carried out body checks, restricted access to the floor and asked prison officials for extra guards.
Hospital staff grew concerned that someone was planning to help Musa Kekana escape from his hospital ward after his arrest for murder. As a result, they implemented strict security measures including body checks, restricting access to Kekana's floor, and requesting additional guards. These actions were documented in hospital records presented to the Johannesburg High Court by Kekana's defense team.
Judge Cassim Moosa examined these notes during the trial, noting that the staff appeared to be worried about their own safety, possibly fearing that Kekana could be forcibly removed from the facility. Dr Ziphelele Mazibuko, a witness for the prosecution in the trial against Vusimuzi Cat Matlala and his co-accused, revealed that Kekana had claimed to have been suffocated during his two-night stay at Edenvale Hospital.
Matlala's attorney, Riaan Gissing, objected to this evidence, arguing that it was introducing new information that had not been previously disclosed to the court.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
