Johannesburg – Tshegofatso Pule’s murder trial continues at the Johannesburg High Court today with the defence team for the accused, Ntuthuko Shoba, expected to recall two witnesses for cross-examination.
Last week, the state wrapped up its case after witnesses, Pule’s friend Tshepiso Tsita and Colonel Aubrey Maimela, had taken to the stand to unpack a number of threats that Pule received a month before she was brutally murdered in June 2020.
Tsita told the court that Pule showed her a list of threatening text messages from an “unknown lady” who was allegedly linked to Shoba. The woman had told Pule to stay away from Shoba, according to Tsita’s testimony.
When he took to the stand on Thursday, Maimela confirmed that the police have compiled the evidence showing the deceased’s final days were coupled with threats.
Advocate Norman Makhubela, representing Shoba, opted not to cross-examine Tsita and Maimela, telling the court that he will instead call state witnesses to the stand. However, this never took place.
The defence also indicated that it was still exploring other options, which included asking the court to discharge the accused.
Pule, heavily pregnant at the time of her death, was shot by the convicted killer Muzikayise Malephane in Noordgesig, Soweto. She was later found hanging from a tree in Durban Deep, Roodepoort.
