Thulsie twins terror trial delayed again
The terror trial of
Tony-Lee and Brandon-Lee Thulsie was hit by another delay in the Johannesburg
High Court on Monday.
The twins have been in prison awaiting trial since their arrest in 2016 on charges related to terrorism.
The twins, who are allegedly linked to the Islamic State were arrested during raids in Newclare, Johannesburg, and Azaadville.
They were apparently planning to detonate explosives at the US embassy and Jewish institutions in South Africa.
On Monday, the State told Judge Ratha Mokgoathleng that it's ready to proceed with the trial, but Advocate Abu Bakr Omar, for the twins, objected to the live streaming of the court proceedings.
Omar said the case was very sensitive and while they do not mind the media live-tweeting or publishing details of what happened in court, but he believes live proceedings would put witnesses and his clients in danger.
He said there was an order by a previous court prohibiting live recording of court proceedings, an order the State said it was not aware of.
A frustrated Mokgoathleng argued that this trial cannot be held in secret and applications for protection of witnesses can be made to the judge.
The matter was postponed to Tuesday for media houses to submit formal applications.
