Defence Attorney withdraws from Madlanga Commission murder case following courtroom clash

The lawyer representing the man accused of killing a key witness in the Madlanga Commission said that he withdrew from the case after failing to see eye to eye with his client.

Attorney Eric Bryer was representing Matiphandile Sotheni, who is in custody for allegedly shooting and killing Marius van der Merwe, known at the commission as Witness D.

READ: Sotheni tells court he's ready to speak after denying killing Witness D

It’s alleged that Sotheni tracked Van der Merwe for several days before fatally shooting him in December.

"It’s the first time I’m seeing this lawyer today. He’s not being given instructions by me. He did not even take my statement. I’m arrested for something I didn’t commit."

That was Matiphandile Sotheni, who lashed out in court last week after his lawyer, Eric Bryer, asked for his bail application to be postponed to May.

Sotheni appeared visibly unhappy with the proposed date and told the court that his lawyer was taking instructions from someone other than him.

He also claimed he had never consulted with Bryer before and had only met him on the morning of his court appearance.

Bryer, who was representing the former special task force precision shooter, has now confirmed that he has withdrawn from the case.

He said that the decision was taken because he was in conflict with his client and could not continue representing him in court.