The High Court in Polokwane adjourned a trial-within-trial on the admissibility of a confession statement to Thursday. Pig farmer Zacharia Olivier and co-accused William Musora face charges over the 2024 murders of two women.
The trial-within-trial focuses on whether Olivier's confession statement can be admitted as evidence. Olivier told the court he gave the statement under duress and that police did not read him his rights.
Prosecutor Advocate George Sekhukhune argued that Olivier was aware of his rights and disputed claims of a violation. Defence lawyer Advocate Jakobus Venter submitted that the state failed to prove the statement was made freely.
Olivier and Musora are accused of murdering Maria Makgato and Kudzai Ndlovu at Onverwacht farm outside Polokwane in August 2024. The court is set to resume proceedings on Thursday.