Christopher Sabbadu, who is accused of the rape and murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, has a new legal representative after his previous lawyer quit, citing a conflict of interest.
|||Durban - Murder accused Christopher Sabbadu, 24, made a brief appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday, with a new legal representative.
Last week, Sabbadu’s legal aid advocate, Lauren Marais, withdrew because of a “conflict of interest”.
On Monday, Judicare advocate, Di Franklin, confirmed she had taken over as Sabbadu’s legal representative, and the case was adjourned to Tuesday.
The Daily News established via reliable sources that the conflict of interest revolved around a pointing out Sabbadu is alleged to have done with police.
At the start of his trial last week, Sabbadu indicated he would challenge the pointing out, claiming his constitutional rights were violated.
It is believed this position may have changed.
Sabbadu is charged with the rape and murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Litisha Danielle Naidoo.
He pleaded not guilty.
Sabbadu faces two charges of rape and one of murder.
Naidoo’s brutalised, half-naked body was found by police in a stormwater drain near Debi Place in Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, on November 20, 2014.
According to the indictment, Sabbadu and Naidoo were involved in a “tumultuous” love relationship.
It is alleged that Sabbadu decided to rape and kill his girlfriend, and procured the assistance of four of his friends to do so. These friends were allegedly well known to Naidoo.
The state alleges that Sabbadu and his friends planned to lure Naidoo to a secluded area where they would rape, kill and dispose of her body. They armed themselves with knives and plastic refuse bags.
On Thursday, November 20, Naidoo was allegedly successfully lured to a secluded area by Sabbadu.
There, Sabbadu and his accomplices allegedly attacked her. Two of the men raped her. During the attack, Naidoo was stabbed multiple times and throttled. Her body was wrapped in the plastic bags and dumped into an adjacent sewer canal. The killers then fled.
Daily News