Likhona Fose: Back-and-forth between State, defence in case against Mduduzi Mnisi
On Wednesday, the State argued that Mnisi should not be granted bail because the community might take matters into their own hands.
Mdudzi Mnisi, the accused of murdering Likhona Fose, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court on 2 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - A back-and-forth ensued between the State and defence in the case of Mduduzi Mnisi, charged with the premeditated murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose.
On Wednesday, the State argued that Mnisi should not be granted bail because the community might take matters into their own hands.
Mnisi's attorney argued that he was put in danger by the investigating officer, Sergeant Moses Semosa, who arrested him solely based on one eyewitness’s account.
Fose's mutilated body was discovered not far from her home in Durban Deep, a day after she was reported missing in June.
Reports claim that Mnisi was the last person seen with her before she vanished.
When the investigating officer was put on the stand to reveal his findings, Mnisi's defence attorney Khaeyo Kgokong argued that he may have been prematurely arrested.
This is how it played out.
Kgokong: “Have you up to-date managed to get anything, any piece of evidence, that links the accused to the commission of events in your investigations?”
Semosar: “No, your worship.”
Kgokong: “You are saying to the court again that no, it is not safe that the accused is granted bail because the community is angry outside? What I want to put to you is that you placed the accused in this position where the community is angry against him, what do you say?”
Semosa: “It’s not true, your worship.”
The matter returns to court on 9 July for Mnisi's parole officer to take the witness stand.
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