Phone found in murder suspect's cell

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Facebook posts allegedly made by murder suspect Melisizwe Monqo (30), who has been in custody since his arrest last month for the brutal murder of Hlompho Mohapi (25), raised eyebrows when it appeared online just before 19:00 last Saturday evening.

Upon enquiry Johan Pienaar, communications official for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in the Southern Cape, confirmed that a cellphone was found and confiscated from the cell Monqo was detained in the following day, Sunday 29 July.

"A case of illigal possession of a cellphone has been opened with the police. DCS will also perform an internal investigation to find out how the phone ended up in Monqo's cell," he said.

He confirmed that the cellphone was the one from which the Facebook posts were made on Saturday.

Monqo, a pastor from King Williams Town, his fiancé, Siphosile Pamba (25) and Monqo's cousin, Phumlani Qusheka (28), were arrested within two weeks after Mohapi's murder on 5 July.

Her body was found dumped next to the gravel road near Voëlklip. Her throat was partially slit and she had stab wounds to her chest. All three suspects have been in custody since their arrests.

The bail application for the three suspects continued in the George Magistrate's Court yesterday, Wednesday 1 August. They face charges of fraud, robbery with aggravating circumstances and premeditated murder, a Schedule 6 offence. This means the accused must prove that exceptional circumstances exist which permit their release on bail. The state is opposing bail.

Myron Rabinowitz reported from court where Monqo was back in the dock yesterday to testify in his bail application. Monqo mostly excercised his right to remain silent during cross examination from state prosecutor MP Heyns.

The second post that was made on Melisizwe Monqo's Facebook page at 18:55, read: "After God has tested us through His fire, we will come out shining like gold."

Heyns put it to Monqo that police found blood in his rented vehicle, which was sent for analysis to determine if it is Mohapi's blood.

The court heard that the cellphone tower at the Moeras river near the George Airport picked up both Monqo and Mohapi's cellphones on the day of her murder.

Heyns also told Monqo that the message for help from Mohapi's phone was sent after her death as her body was found before the WhatsApp message was sent.

The first post on Saturday evening at 18:47 read: "Jesus is Lord no matter what, He is in control."