The alleged hitman implicated in the brazen Wynberg Court murder has claimed that solitary confinement is too "depressive" and is seeking a transfer back to a communal cell with other inmates at Pollsmoor prison.
The five accused appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court yesterday, where they allegedly carried out the hit on Chintso on the fourth floor of the building. They face a string of serious charges, including aiding and abetting criminal gang activities in association with the Junky Funky Kidz (JFK) gang, premeditated murder, and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The court was initially scheduled to commence with the bail applications of the accused. However, proceedings were unexpectedly stalled when Adams' attorney, Kevin van Vught, requested the court to make provisions with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to have his client moved from solitary confinement to a communal cell.
Van Vught informed the court that his client had sustained injuries during a previous court appearance. "On the last occasion at court [Adams] was injured at court and apparently fell down the stairs," Van Vught stated. "The situation was so bad that an ambulance was summoned and he had to be taken to hospital, but was not taken."
Van Vught further claimed that Adams did not receive any medical treatment for his injuries and was subsequently placed in a single cell. He argued that the solitary confinement was having a detrimental effect on Adams' mental health. "He received no medical treatment, however he was placed in a single cell and he finds the solitary confinement extremely depressive and is having a consultation with a psychologist [on Friday]," Van Vught explained.
The magistrate expressed surprise at the request, noting that most inmates typically prefer to be housed in single cells. She questioned Adams' desire to be placed in a more populated environment.
The magistrate clarified that the court's authority was limited in this matter. She stated that she could only order that DCS conduct a check-up on Adams at the Pollsmoor hospital, as the court does not have the power to instruct DCS on where to house inmates within the prison system.
Meanwhile, the court heard that only Matthews and Farao would be proceeding with bail applications at this time. The case has been postponed to 6 June for further proceedings.
The unusual request from Adams has added another layer of complexity to an already high-profile case. The brazen nature of the alleged crime, committed within the confines of a courthouse, has drawn significant public attention. The allegations of gang involvement and the subsequent legal wrangling are likely to keep this case in the headlines for some time to come.
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