The trial date of axed Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride, was postponed again in the Pretoria Regional Court on Friday.
This, after McBride’s defence team withdrew from the matter because its legal fees had not been paid by McBr ide’s former employer the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality. Magistrate Peet Johnson postponed the matter to January 26 to allow McBride time to raise funds, and to find another legal team.
Speaking outside the court, McBride — who faces charges of drunk driving and defeating the ends of justice — said he had been trying for two weeks to ensure that the legal fees were paid by the municipality before his court appearance today (Friday).
“In addition to that… it wouldn’t have been able to go on because documents in terms of a high court order have still not been received by the defence team.”
McBride was referring to a court order which ruled that all documents pertaining to the trial, including those of witnesses be handed over to the legal team.
The State maintains that all the documents were given. McBride said he could not comment on why the legal team had not been paid and that all questions should be addressed to the municipality. Meanwhile, the court also postponed the related, defeating the ends of justice and assault case against Ekurhuleni metro policeman Hendrik Degenaar.
The matter was postponed to March 26 to 27, for plea and trial. The State accused the defence of trying to delay the matter.
