Court hears cause of death in cannibalism case unclear

Court hears cause of death in cannibalism case unclear

Grisly details of evidence uncovered by police at a house have emerged in the Estcourt cannibalism case.  

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Bernadette Wicks

The trial got underway yesterday in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday.  

Nino Mbatha, Lungisani Magubane and Khayelihle Lamula were among 7 people arrested last year after Mbatha allegedly walked into his local police station and claimed he was being forced to eat human flesh. 

Charges against three of the original accused, however, have since been dropped and one has since died.  

The trio is charged with the murder of 24-year-old local mother, Zanele Hlatshwayo. 

NOW READ: Accused in Estcourt cannibalism case dies

State Advocate, Wendy Greef went through the evidence the prosecutions team intends on leading. 

And in respect of the accused's arrests and the exhibits, Greef says they will lead evidence to the effect that after approaching the police - Mbatha led them to a house where she explains they discovered a number of human body parts.

Some of the body parts were in pots and appeared to have been cooked. 

She says the doctor who carried out the post-mortem was unable to ascertain Hlatshwayo's cause of death - in part because of the allegations of cannibalism. 

ALSO READ: Estcourt cannibalism: Court hears victim's murder 'a muthi killing'

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