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Ritual murder accused to plead not guilty

Published in: Legalbrief Today
Date: Wed 16 March 2011
Category: In Court
Issue No: 2759

Samantha Mitchell (35) has appeared in the Eastern Cape High Court (Port Elizabeth) accused of stabbing her lover, Grace Tommy (36), in what has been described as a ritual murder.

The Herald reports that she indicated that she would plead not guilty. Mitchell first claimed that Tommy was stabbed by Nigerians and 'suddenly died' despite her efforts to clean the wounds. Later, Mitchell claimed that she had acted in self-defence when attacked by Tommy. During her bail application, the investigating officer testified that Mitchell had developed strong ties to satanism from the age of 14, and that Tommy had assisted her in carrying out satanistic rituals. The investigating officer further testified that Mitchell had told him that she had the power to resurrect Tommy. Mitchell was evaluated by psychiatrists after her arrest and was found fit to stand trial. The report notes the case was postponed to September.

http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20110315142158692

(к сожалению, остальная часть статьи доступна только по платной подписке)