WORLD : Judge Retains Mandela Charges
A judge refused today to dismiss kidnaping charges against Winnie Mandela, overruling defense claims that prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to proceed with the trial.
Justice M. S. Stegmann ruled against defense motions that the state failed to provide enough information to enable Mandela and three co-defendants to prepare their defense.
“I consider accused (Mandela) has been fairly advised of the case against her, sufficient to understand it and prepare her defense,” the judge said at the end of the second day of the trial in the Rand Supreme Court.
The judge, however, ruled Mandela should be given more details about the state’s charges on her alleged role in the kidnaping of four people in December, 1988.
Police used batons to disperse cheering supporters when the Mandelas left the building after the morning hearing.
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