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JUDGE SLAMS ADVOCATE IN BHEKI/THULANI CASE

06/11/2014 04:48:00 BY KWANELE DLAMINI
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image FATHERLY LOVE: Lawyer Thulani Maseko carrying his two-year-old son Nkhosenhle.

MBABANE – Judge Ahmed Ebrahim yesterday took a swipe at Advocate Martin Brassey for insinuating that Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko and The Nation Magazine Editor Bheki Makhubu would be released from prison in 48 hours.


Ebrahim, who surprisingly sat without the two other judges, described the statement that was made in court by the advocate as playing to the gallery. Brassey, who appeared on behalf of Maseko, on Monday informed everyone who was present in court that there was an indication that the editor and lawyer would be released from prison within two days.


This was after Brassey and Advocate Lucas Maziya filed an urgent bail application pending appeal, since the matter in which Makhubu and Maseko are challenging the two year-sentence they are currently serving will be heard in the May 2015 session of the Supreme Court of Appeal. 
After lengthy deliberations in chambers by Judge Ebrahim who sat with Judge Stanley Moore and Judge Bheki Maphalala on Monday, at around 6pm, Brassey returned to court and made the statement much to the jubilation of the about 50 people.  Judge Ebrahim said Brassey’s statement caused trauma to Makhubu and Maseko as well as their families.

“There were certain statements made in court indicating impropriety in handling the case. The publicity that was made has caused the accused trauma. They and their families have been traumatised by the promises. It is about time we stopped playing to the public gallery. Your primary target is to get bail for your clients,” Ebrahim said before the matter was called yesterday.


Advocate Brassey was not present in court yesterday. Lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi and Advocate Maziya were present. The judge reminded the legal representatives that he had indicated in chambers on Monday that they had to look at the mechanisms in terms of law if they were concerned with achieving the goal of obtaining bail for their clients.

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