The high court in Benoni, Gauteng, was filled with gasps of dismay as the judge declared Ntokozo Zikhali not guilty in the harrowing case of the mutilation of four-year-old Bokgabo Poo.
Judge finds Ntokozo Zikhali not guilty of Bokgabo Poo murder
The shocking verdict left many in disbelief, as the accused walked free despite the gruesome nature of the crime and his lengthy links to sexual crimes against minors.
As reported by Benoni City Times, the acting judge presiding over the case, Ian Cox, dismissed the State’s application to introduce a witness statement after they had already closed their case.
The witness was with the investigating officer during Zikhali’s arrest, and the State sought to use this statement to establish if the accused’s rights were violated during the arrest.
However, Judge Cox deemed the late introduction of the statement as unfair to the accused, ensuring justice for all parties involved.
The Tragic Murder of Bokgabo Poo
Ntokozo Zikhali stood accused of the murder of four-year-old Bokgabo Poo, whose mutilated body was discovered in a veld in Wattville, Gauteng.
The young girl had gone missing on 10 October 2022 while playing with a friend in Masoleng Park, sparking a massive search effort and public outrage.
State Prosecutor Eric Sihlangu argued for the witness, Sergeant Sibuyani, to testify during a trial-within-a-trial to determine if the accused’s rights were upheld during the arrest.
The defence, led by Advocate Anneke Van Wyk, objected to this late introduction, claiming it would not alter the proceedings’ course. The judge sided with the defence, emphasizing the importance of a fair trial for the accused.
During the trial, the court heard about how Ntokozo Zikhali had confessed to the crime during his arrest to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Bronkhorst at Brakpan SAPS.
However, Zikhali later claimed that the confession was not made freely and voluntarily due to alleged police assault.
Consequently, a trial-within-a-trial was initiated to evaluate the confession’s admissibility. Judge Cox ruled the confession inadmissible, stating that the State failed to provide sufficient evidence of its voluntary nature.
Following the judge’s ruling, Ntokozo Zikhali was found not guilty of the charges against him.