Times Of Swaziland: ADVOCATE MABILA, JUDGE CLASH

ADVOCATE MABILA, JUDGE CLASH
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 BY KWANELE DLAMINI on 05/10/2017 01:14:00


MBABANE – “You are blackmailing me.” This was said by Judge Nkululeko
Hlophe during a heated moment between him and Advocate Mduduzi Mabila during
Mfanukhona ‘Kakona’ Dlamini’s case at the High Court yesterday.
This was after Mabila had indicated to the court that he was declining his
briefing by his instructing attorney on the matter and asked to be excused.
Mabila had made two applications in court to have an exhibit, a Toyota Hilux
motor vehicle reproduced in court from South Africa for viewing purposes and
that the Toyota expert who testified be re-called. He said an application could
even be made to go to the neighbouring country to view the car.
The advocate insisted on having the vehicle brought to court to be viewed again
and Judge Hlophe insisted on checking the records first to determine if there
was a need to grant Mabila’s application. This went on until Mabila declined
his brief (instructions) and walked out of the court.
After the walkout by the advocate, a number of police officers were seen in the
court premises.
Before leaving the court, he said as the defence, they never got to view the car
on cross-examination but had requested that the vehicle be kept overnight for
cross-examination purposes the next day. He alleged that they were told that
they would have to make an application if they needed the car.
According to Mabila, the judge indicated the previous week that it was recorded
that there was tampering on the chassis number and Mabila said since they were
outside the courtroom inspecting the car, it could happen that the judge
recorded wrongly.