Three men made an arrival in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on May 9, 2022, related to the connection between a 28-year-old’s IT school killing. They left their bid for bail on Monday and will return to court on June 9.

According to the prosecution, the accused in the Hillary Gardee murder case have decided not to opt for bail.

Last time, the family also spoke in front of the Nelspruit magistrate’s court, where three men arrested for her murder made their first appearance. 

The three of them are currently facing charges of rape, murder, kidnapping, plot to commit murder, beating the ends of justice, and custody of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

According to family and EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo’, her family is here to see her daughter’s killers. We don’t want to entertain any belief about their identities or whether they have any connections to the family. We will be going to see them when they appear in court.

Furthermore, he said police research is continuing, and there is still the possibility that more arrests could not be ruled out. 

The state prosecutor informed the court that the three charged had opted not to apply for bail as proceedings started.

They were named Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa, Phillemon Lukhele and Albert Mduduzi Gama.

Lukhele’s lawyer shared a message from the side of the suspect: “My client wishes to share his message of condolences to Mr Gardee and to his family. We’ve known each other for a while.”

Lukhele said to show his commitment to helping the police with their investigation; he would not apply for bail in order to allow investigations to continue without obstruction.

All the blamed asked for medical assistance, alleging police had tortured them during their investigation, questioning & their arrest. They told the court they had sustained injuries and were in pain.

The whole state is waiting for the DNA and ballistics reports, a post-mortem report and footage of video analysis. 

EFF members clad in party regalia vocalised struggle songs and danced outside court.

The brother (Noble) Hillary was emotional and also cried while he was waited to inside court. 

He was standing along with a few ANC members outside court. 

There was a strong police presence around the court, and the street leading to the building was closed.

Details: 

Gardee was forced into a vehicle when she was with a three-year-old child who she was with at a grocery store. The court papers proclaim that she was raped and then murdered or a day later, less than 5km from the Nelspruit Plaza, the place where she was last seen.

Godrich Gardee went missing from a grocery store in April. Her body was discovered after some days in a bush near Sabie. The child was found a day after his kidnapping.

As per the information in the charge sheet, the age of men is between 39 and 52. Then dumped her dead body in Rhenosterhoek, about an hour from where she was kidnapped.