Tina back in hospital as assault trial begins

21 September 2012 - 02:01 By NIVASHNI NAIR
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Tina Mbili, who spent several days in hospital after being brutally assaulted, being interviewed at her home yesterday Picture: THULI DLAMINI
Tina Mbili, who spent several days in hospital after being brutally assaulted, being interviewed at her home yesterday Picture: THULI DLAMINI

Tina Mbili, the 21-year-old Durban mother who was savagely assaulted almost a month ago, has been readmitted to hospital.

Mbili is being treated for post- traumatic stress and requires a blood transfusion due to the injuries sustained in the brutal attack.

She is also undergoing physical therapy as she is rapidly losing mobility in her right arm and leg.

Her ex-lover and the father of her 22-month-old daughter, Michael Padayachee, is accused of "striking [Mbili] with clenched fists, kicking and throttling" her until she lost consciousness at a park in Phoenix, north of Durban, on August 24.

He has been charged with Mbili's attempted murder and is currently applying for bail in the Phoenix Magistrate's Court.

Court proceedings were yesterday halted when prosecutor Thando Matshayana raised concerns over the accuracy of the interpretation from English to Zulu.

She explained that the questions put to the investigating officer, warrant officer Petros Mthembu, were not accurately interpreted.

Magistrate Lee Bonhomme thereafter stood the matter down to contact the interpreter's supervisor to establish her competence.

On resumption, he explained that he was unable to contact the supervisor and it was therefore in the interest of justice that the bail application would have to be adjourned for a new interpreter. The application will resume today.

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