Evidence from deceased witness deemed inadmissible

THE State was dealt a blow in the Western Cape High Court when its application to have a statement admitted as evidence was denied in the notorious gang murder trial against the Terrible Josters alleged gang leader, Elton Lenting, and his 19 co-accused.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

The warning statement by now-deceased Delano Saptoe was deemed inadmissible by the high court this week.

It allegedly implicates two of the co-accused.

Lenting and his co-accused face a plethora of criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Saptoe was never an accused person in the ongoing trial against Lenting and others.

“Ostensibly, he could have been charged with the other accused before this court, but he was not charged due to his untimely demise before the 20 accused were charged and transferred to this court for trial,” said Judge James Lekhuleni.