Strategy to Delay Timol Murder Trial?

News

PRESS RELEASE: 08 April 2021

João ‘Jan’ Anastacio Rodrigues made another court appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg this morning for his role in the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol. A visibly upset Judge Monama, who is presiding over the management of the Roderigues’s criminal trial was livid in court today.

The long awaited decision from the SCA in Bloemfontein is pending after appeal from the legal team of Roderigues was heard on 6 November 2019.

“Roderigues remains innocent until proven guilty,” remarked Monama. He however questioned the lengthy detail for the commencement of the criminal trial. The family had been waiting for justice as 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of Timol.

The judge further remarked that what he found completely baffling was the continued legal representation of Roderigues by Mr. Ben Minnaar. Minnaar previously worked for the State Attorney’s office and represented Roderigues at the re-opened inquest in 2017. Roderigues made his first criminal court appearance in 2018. Minnaar had by then resigned and gone into private practice. He was then appointed by the State Attorney’s office to represent Roderigues as his instructing attorney in the criminal trial. Presently, Roderigues is also represented by Advocates Cilliers SC and Coetzee SC. The State continues paying for Roderigues’s legal fees. The Judge added that the resources of the country are been exploited and overplayed with the lengthy court delays. It appeared as if there was a strategy to prolong the commencement of the criminal trial. The judge viewed the lengthy delay as depressing.

The Timol re-opened inquest was concluded on 12 October 2017 when Judge Mothle reversed the 1972 verdict of suicide to the murder of Ahmed Timol. Roderigues made his first court appearance on 30 July 2018. Nearly three years later, his criminal trial has not yet commenced.

In order to expedite proceedings, Roderigues is set to re-appear at the Palmridge High Court on 6 May 2021. His bail was extended.

Timeline:

26 June 2017                   

Re-Opening of the Timol Inquest

12 October 2017             

Ruling handed down and 1972 Verdict overturned

30 July 2018                     

Rodrigues charged and 1st court appearance in Johannesburg Magistrate Court

18 September 2018 

Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

15 October 2018             

Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

22 October 2018             

Rodrigues Court Appearance at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

20 November 2019         

Meeting in Chambers

28 January 2019              

Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston

28 & 29 March 2019               

Application for Permanent Stay of Prosecution (342A) Argued at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

31 May 2019                      

Judgment handed down at South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

28 June 2019                    

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg

02 August 2019 

Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston

18 September 2019

Application for leave to appeal, South Gauteng High Court dismissed

 25 September 2019

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg​for Criminal Proceedings 

 22 October 2019

Meeting in Chambers in Palm Ridge High Court

12 December 2019

Provisional Criminal Trial Case

28 February 2020

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court

28 May 2020

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court

31 July 2020

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court

 29 October 2020

Rodrigues did not attend proceedings at Palmridge High Court. Order of Arrest held over

06 November 2020

SCA hears matter in Bloemfontein: High Court & SCA Papers: https://www.ahmedtimol.co.za/rodrigues-high-court-sca-papers/

Repeat Broadcast: Rodrigues at SCA & Media Coverage

07 December 2020

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the Palmridge High Court. Warrant of arrest cancelled and bail extended

16 February 2021

Rodrigues Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston

08 April 2021

Rodrigues Court Appearance at the South Gauteng High Court

06 May 2021

Next Court Appearance at Palm Ridge Court, Germiston

 

 

 

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