South Africa’s courtrooms have seen a number of high-profile dramas this year. lThe Oscar Pistorius murder trial took centre stage for most of the year. Judge Thokozile Masipa convicted the disabled athlete of culpable homicide in September for shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, after mistaking her for an intruder. The spotlight will shift to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) next year when the prosecution appeals Pistorius’ acquittal for murder. lBritish businessman Shrien Dewani was declared free to go home midway through his trial for the murder of his wife Anni, who was killed on honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. Cape Town High Court Judge Jeanette Traverso discharged Dewani this month after the prosecution failed to prove its case. The Dewanis’ taxi driver and two other men were convicted for Anni’s murder and claimed they conspired with Shrien. lIt was the police’s turn in the crossfire when a suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa was released for lack of evidence. Charges against Zamokuhle Mbatha were withdrawn. lThe prosecuting authority (NPA) notched up a victory when the SCA increased the sentence of former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown to...
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