The late Kiernan Forbes outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road. Image: CCTV screenshot.
AKA murder accused denies being a spotter, says he was on a date at Wish
AKA murder accused Lindokuhle Ndimande says he was on a date at Wish Restaurant, but the woman he was supposed to meet didn’t come.
The late Kiernan Forbes outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road. Image: CCTV screenshot.
Lindokuhle Ndimande, one of the five men charged with the murder of award-winning rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, denies being a spotter.
This was revealed at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, where the bail application of five of the seven suspects charged for the murder of Forbes and his friend Tebello Motsoane continued.
AKA MURDER ACCUSED DENIES BEING A SPOTTER
Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Ndimande face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and money laundering.
Most of the accused are facing separate charges of murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances and were out on bail.
When the five suspects were arrested in February, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealed that the seven suspects had different roles.
These included two spotters, two shooters, organiser of guns and getaway vehicles and a coordinator among others
According to the State, Ndimande was dropped off at Wish Restaurant at 21:17. CCTV footage captured him entering the restaurant.
Accused 5 in the AKA murder case went on to have a meal and even switched his seats so he could get a better view of AKA and his entourage.
Eyewitness News also reported that Ndimande was allegedly seen continuously talking on his cellphone and even paid for his meal using a Standard Bank card linked to an account he opened the same day Forbes was killed.
Also, the State alleged that the accused was captured continuously talking on his phone while at the restaurant. Following the shooting, Ndimande was not shaken like others in the restaurant were.
LINDOKUHLE NDIMANDE INSISTS HE WAS ON A DATE
On Tuesday, Lindokuhle Ndimande denied being a spotter at the Wish Restaurant. Instead, he says he was on a date, but the woman stood him up.
In his replying affidavit, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, who represents Ndimande, said that the accused was at the restaurant to meet a woman.
“After realising that the clock was ticking while at the restaurant while at Wish Restaurant, I kept calling the lady, and she kept promising that she would come.
“I dispute any notion that I was a spotter as I wasn’t even aware that the first deceased (AKA) was around. It was shortly after gunshots had ceased that I heard there was a shooting outside and that one of the victims was AKA,” Mlotshwa told the court.
