Greetings from Mariazell, I hope you are all experiencing the same good weather we are experiencing this side. We have received very heavy rains in the last couple of days, and we thank God for that. The farmers are all smiles carefully watching as the milies they rely on for some income blossoms. However the goods rains, and good effect on crops, they have left our roads this side very bad, and as a caution if you plan to visit us, do not come by Yaris or Avanza but either use a helicopter, or use a vehicle that has good shock absobers to withstand the many humps and portholes that you will encounter on the way.

Beside the point, I am writting this email to update you on what has been taking place this side, in connection with the murder of Fr.Earnest. Today as I mentioned in my last email was the day we all looked forward to, to hear the charges as they were read for the suspected killers of Fr.Earnest at Maluti Magistrate court before the case is moved to High Court. At 9:30 A.M this morning the hearing started at the magistrate court, and all the five accused present, the public prosecute in her soft low voice read the charges for them. All present very attentive not to miss anything, and the charges were as follows.

1.Murder, Robbery with agrevating circumstances, and theft. The five will be charged with the murder of Fr.Earnest, and with robery, they will be charged with agrevating circumstances because when they went to rob they did nor rule out the use of force, which they used and asulted the victim before they murdered him. They will be charged for robbery where by on 31st of May 2009 they robbed the late Fr.Joseph of a torch, a pair of shoes, two coats and around R.17,000.00. These were the charges as they were presented to them from Pietermaritzburg high court.

After the charges were read, the lawyer whom Mr.Matabane had hired accused himself and withdrew from representing Mr.Matabane. This was a big blow to him, and he (Matabane) couldnt hide the disapointment which we read on his face. After that Mr Matabane was given a chance to apply for a legal aid just like other four suspects. If you recall my emails in the past when I had a long discusion with his lawyer, he mentioned to me that if he ever discotver that Matabane was involved with the robery and killing of Fr.Earnest, he will withdral from representing him, and I guess that is the message he was communicating to us when he withdrewl his representation.

On 1st of Feb we shall be at the highcourt and hopefully the case will begin and hopefully it wont take eternity. It is official now the case has been moved from Magistrate Court to high court. With that I wish you all well, and dont loose hope and praying that Justice may be done.