THE gallery erupted in loud applause as the magistrate told a gender-based violence activist that justice would be served in the case of a man accused of storing body parts in the fridge.
On Friday, 3 December, murder-accused Flavio Hlabangwane (26) made an appearance in the Protea Magistrates Court.
His application to undergo mental evaluation was granted, and the case was postponed to 28 January.
Following this announcement by Magistrate David Mhango, a GBV activist approached the stand.
In Setswana, she told the magistrate that the accused could not claim to be mentally challenged.
She added that she was not happy with the process as the country was facing a high rate of gender-based violence.
“We cannot allow men that kill women to claim insanity in court. We want him to face justice. We want justice for women,” she said.
Mhango explained that this was a process and procedure that needed to be followed in the interest of justice being properly served when the evaluation report was available.
“We are avoiding the situation where in the middle of the trial, it pops up that he is mentally challenged. The psychiatrist will be able to guide the court and give us the report.”
He added that should the report find the accused fit to stand trial, it would commence.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Hlabangwane was married to his cousin, Tshepang Tsipe, and it was suspected that the human remains found in his fridge in Protea Glen were hers.
