Woman accused of killing her husband denied bail

The “black widow” accused of orchestrating the murder of her police officer husband will remain in custody for the remainder of her trial.

Magistrate Sifiso Mabilane from the Witbank magistrate's court yesterday denied the bail application of murder accused Patricia Kutu, 28, on the grounds that  she failed to convince the court why she should be given bail. 

She is accused of masterminding the murder of her husband, Sgt  Joseph Kutu, in July. He was attached to the Middelburg Tactical Response Team (TRT). 

Two other suspects, Xolani Peter Ndabezitha and Vincent Langa, were also arrested on the same matter and have since abandoned their bail application fearing for their lives. 

“The accused failed to convince this court on why she should be given bail. She only relied on a statement read by her lawyer.

“The accused failed to even take a stand and remember, this is a schedule six offence and the accused should give exceptional evidence and why she should be released on bail,” said Mabilane. 

According to prosecutor Fridah Tshwane, the widow contacted a neighbour seeking the services of a hitman and was referred to Ndabezitha from Kwaggafontein.

Ndabezitha was linked to the crime through GPS co-ordinates that showed he was in eMalahleni hours before the officer's death. He left eMalahleni after the officer was murdered. 

The state alleged the widow gave the accused four state guns that had been issued to the deceased.

Kutu was not asked to plead to a murder charge, four counts of possession of firearm and ammunition, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. 

She was arrested on December 16 after Langa told police about the plan that led to the murder. 

“According to accused number one [Langa], the applicant in court [Kutu] asked accused number one to find him a hitman to kill her husband. As the state, we are informed that the applicant [Kutu] was charged an amount of R35,000 for the job but she only paid R7,000; and she also gave the hitmen state guns belonging to the deceased as payment. 

Mabilane postponed the case to February 11 for further police investigation.