Thabo Bester To Represent Himself In 2027 Prison Escape Trial
Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester has fired his lawyers and will represent himself when his prison escape trial begins in the Free State High Court in April 2027.
The court has set the trial to run from 19 April to 18 June 2027, nearly five years after Bester escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
Prosecutors allege that Bester faked his death in a cell fire using the body of Katlego Bereng before fleeing the prison. They further allege that his former girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and several others helped him.
Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023.
This is not the first time Bester has parted ways with his legal representatives.
His latest legal team told the court that it was unable to properly consult with him at eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad, where he has repeatedly claimed that his detention conditions violate his right to a fair trial.
- eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre, Free State High Court, Katlego Bereng, Mangaung correctional centre, MDNTV, mdntvnews, nandipha magudumana, prison escape case, south africa crime, Thabo Bester, Thabo Bester court case, Thabo Bester legal team, Thabo Bester prison escape, Thabo Bester prison escape trial, Thabo Bester trial 2027
