Judgement expected in trial within a trial of alleged sex worker killer

JOHANNESBURG - Alleged serial killer Sifiso Mkhwanazi will be back at the Johannesburg High Court sitting in Palm Ridge for the outcome of his trial within a trial on Friday morning.

Mkhwanazi was arrested in connection with the murders of six women believed to be sex workers, whose services he solicited before allegedly smothering them to death and shooting one of them between April and October of 2022.

Mkhwanazi's father Mark Khumalo took the stand against him as the State's second witness on Monday and Tuesday, detailing his son's arrest and the discovery of the bodies at his panel beating business in the Joburg CBD.

READ: Court hears how bodies were discovered in case against alleged sex work serial killer, Sifiso Mkhwanazi

Proceedings saw a number of developments throughout the course of this week, particularly a brief standoff between the accused and State Advocate Lwesikane Mashabela on Thursday who accused Mkhwanazi of lying to the court.

During Advocate Mashabela's cross-examination of the accused, he pointed out discrepancies in Mkhwanazi's evidence, disputing his claims that he faced abuse at his father's hands.

Mkhwanazi claimed that both his father and investigating officer sergeant Bongani Mbonambi coerced him to confess that he premeditated the murders before backtracking and citing intimidation instead.

Judge Cassem Moosa is expected to hand down a judgement on the trial within a trial tomorrow after Mkhwanazi's legal counsel presents its final submissions.