Henning murder trial postponed to next year
The trial of Nico Henning, the Pretoria businessman accused of conspiring to murder his wife Chanelle, has once again been delayed.
Judge Mahomed Ismail has postponed 46-year-old Henning's trial to June 6 next year following an agreement between the prosecution and the accused’s legal team.
No reasons were given for the postponement, but Chanelle's father Ivan Saincic, said he understood that the State and defence had agreed that it would be best for the trial.Chanelle Henning
Saincic and his wife Sharon said they were very disappointed and never expected such a long delay.
"It's very difficult for us... This situation should have been sorted out long ago," he said.
Acrimonious custody battle
Chanelle Henning, 25, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting near her son's crèche in Faerie Glen on the morning of November 8, 2011.
The couple were estranged and in the process of a divorce and an acrimonious custody battle at the time.
The two hitmen, former policeman Gerhardus du Plessis and Willem Pieterse, are currently serving 18-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to the murder.
The middlemen, former policeman Andre Gouws and former Nigerian Olympic athlete Ambrose Monye, were last year sentenced to life imprisonment for their role in the killing.
Henning gave himself over to the police shortly after his former friends Gouws and Monye, who initially denied any involvement in the murder, had a change of heart and made full confessions to the police.
The State alleges in the charge sheet that Henning had requested Gouws to assist him in his quest for custody and promised to pay him.
The plan was allegedly at first that Gouws should plant drugs on Chanelle Henning, but Nico Henning allegedly later conspired with Gouws to have his wife killed.
Details of victim’s movements provided
The State alleges Henning had provided intimate details about his wife's movements and also discussed with Gouws places where she could be "executed".
Gouws in turn allegedly enlisted Monye's services to recruit contract killers.
Monye allegedly obtained the services of Du Plessis and Pieterse to kill Chanelle.
After Gouws pointed out Chanelle's house and workplace and the child's school, Du Plessis fired the shots which killed her while on a motorbike driven by Pieterse.
(File photo: Gallo Images)