JOHANNESBURG - What should have been a normal end to the court day turned into a war of words when chaos erupted in the trial within a trial in the attempted murder case against Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala and his co-accused.
A verbal altercation between police, the accused, and their counsel ensued.
Matlala and his co-accused wanted to consult their lawyers before being taken down to holding cells but were prevented by some members of the task force responsible for transporting them.
Matlala’s lawyer, Annelene van den Heever, lambasted the action, saying the aggression was unnecessary.
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This resulted in Judge Cassim Moosa making an order.
He said the accused's legal representatives are entitled at all times to consult with their clients in court.
Earlier on, the state had requested a postponement after the defence submitted a document detailing the movement of 15 police cars that were involved in the arrest of alleged hitman Musa Kekana.
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The prosecutor argued the sudden disclosure amounted to an ambush.
Judge Moosa sided with the prosecution, saying that the State is entitled to a reasonable opportunity to apply its mind to the document.
The trial within a trial resume on Thursday.