False start for Krejcir's murder trial

The murder trial of convicted Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and some of his comrades had yet another false start on Thursday when an absent lawyer prompted a postponement.

The trial is now set to kick off next week in the Johannesburg High Court.

Krejcir and taxi boss Siboniso Miya‚ who are accused in this trial together with three other men‚ are already serving time after being convicted earlier this year for their role in the kidnapping and torture of a man following a botched drug deal. Krejcir was sentenced to 35 years and Miya received 15 years.

Now they and Nkanyiso Mafunda‚ Siphiwe Memela and Luybomir Borislavov Grigorov are accused of murdering Lebanese national and drug dealer Sam Issa.

Issa was shot dead in an apparent hit in Bedfordview on October 12 2013 while sitting in his car. He had allegedly spent the previous evening at Krejcir’s Bedfordview Money Point gold exchange business.

The five men also face charges of conspiracy to commit robbery‚ conspiracy to commit murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Judge Winston Msimeki postponed the matter to May 3 for trial because the defence attorney for Miya‚ Memela‚ Mafunda and Grigorov was not present in court.

The five men appeared before the court under heavy police guard.