Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 6, 1991 TAG: 9102060179
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA LENGTH: Medium
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 No. 8 [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 kidnapping of four people in December 1988. The trial was adjourned until Monday to give prosecutors time to respond to the orders.
The defense had asked Monday that kidnapping charges against Mandela be dropped and assault charges considered separately. She has denied allegations she participated in the kidnapping and assault. The youngest victim, 14-year-old Stompie Seipei, was killed.
Mandela, wearing a white suit, appeared undisturbed after hearing the judge's decision, but made no comment.
She smiled and gave clenched fist salutes as she and her husband, ANC leader Nelson Mandela, were greeted outside the court by scores of wildly cheering supporters. Nelson Mandela sat in the public gallery during the day's hearings.
The Mandelas left the afternoon hearing Tuesday without incident. Police earlier used batons to disperse cheering supporters when the couple left the building after the morning hearing. Several people reportedly sustained minor injuries, but police said there were no arrests or injuries.
Winnie Mandela appeared relaxed as she sat in the dock with co-defendants Johan Morgan, Xoliswa Felati, and Felati's daughter, Mompumelelo Felati. She was carrying a book during the hearing titled, "South Africa - Time Running Out."
On Tuesday, state prosecutors responded to a defense plea Monday that the state failed to provide sufficiently detailed information on the charges to allow Mandela and her co-defendants to prepare their defense.
by CNB