Double chains for Mpofu after he threatens to escape yet again

Court spectators could hear the clanking of chains long before the 24-year-old Given Mpofu appeared in the Louis Trichardt District Court on Tuesday.

Mpofu managed to escape from police custody earlier this year on 31 January with his co-accused Dzulani Nemukula (23), Evans Chipara and Trust Chikwadzi. Mpofu and Chipara were re-arrested in Zimbabwe on 8 February. Since then, Mpofu has been very verbal about his intentions to escape again. He reportedly told the police and court personnel that he would try again if he got even the smallest chance.

Chikwadzi managed to elude the police for a little longer, but has since also been rearrested. He also appeared with Mpofu on Tuesday.

Mpofu, Chipara and Chikwadzi, before their arrest, were facing charges of robbery, armed robbery and house breaking, together with a fourth co-accused, Phumudzo Ramadzi, who did not escape with them.

On Tuesday, only Mpofu and Chikwadzi appeared in court. They asked for a postponement date to afford them the time to finalize their Legal Aid application and make a representation to the senior control prosecutor. Both men were heavily chained and several of the police’s Public Order and Protection Sector (POPS) surrounded them.

Mpofu and Chikwadzi’s case was postponed until 11 July, and they were remanded in custody until then. The newspaper was able to determine that Mpofu and Chikwadzi’s various criminal charges will be combined with those of Nemukula and Ramadzi in one court, after which a trial date will be determined.

Date:20 June 2014

By: Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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