EUDY TRIAL TO GO AHEAD

A date was finally set in the Springs Regional Court on Tuesday for the trial of the men accused of the murder of former Banyana Banyana soccer player Eudy Simelane.

Charges were also withdrawn against one of the suspects due to lack of evidence.

The 24 year old man is one of five suspects in the killing. The other four will face charges of murder with aggravating circumstances, two charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and rape.

The case was transferred to the Delmas High Court where the trial is set to begin on February 11 next year.

The start of the trial has been repeatedly postponed due to problems with the legal representation of the accused as well as delays in the state preparing its case.

Activists, angered by the perceived lack of justice, last month called for an investigation into the delays.

Simelane was assaulted, raped and murdered in the Tornado section of Kwa Thema in the East Rand at the end of April.

It is believed that she was targeted because she was a lesbian.