The man who is charged with the murder of two patrolling police officers in Kraaifontein last year had his case postponed in order to change lawyers in the Western Cape High Court yesterday.
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The accused, Mxoleleni Skikhala, has also been charged with the attempted murder of a women in the vicinity of where the two police officers were killed.
The incident occurred in Bloekombos, in February last year, when the officers were ambushed while on patrol.
They were shot dead and their firearms were stolen. A woman was also shot and seriously wounded close to the scene of the attack on police.
The 32-year-old suspect was later arrested in Khayelitsha and charged with two counts of murder, one of attempted murder, a count of robbery with aggravated circumstances and firearm-related charges.
The State asked that the identities of the victims be withheld at the request of their families.
Much to the dismay of Judge Constance Nziweni, Skikhala yesterday opted to change his legal representative from Legal Aid to a private lawyer.
“Where is this private lawyer? Who is this private lawyer?” she asked the accused upon learning of his decision.
He replied that his family had the business card for the new lawyer and that he didn’t want Legal Aid.
He was reminded that changing attorney’s would further delay court proceedings but the accused was adamant that he follow through with his decision.
“I don’t want Legal Aid,” he insisted, before the case was postponed until Monday.
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