When death comes to court ...

THE trial of two farm labourers accused of the April 2010 murder of Eugene TerreBlanche, leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), resumes in Ventersdorp in North West this month.

Chris Mahlangu and a minor - both former employees of TerreBlanche - stand accused of beating and hacking to death the rightwing leader.

They have both pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, housebreaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances after an alleged wage dispute.

Mahlangu previously testified that he suffered abuse at the hands of his former employer and often went without food for days, as TerreBlanche allegedly refused to pay his wages.

The trial also exposed shocking details of the extent of injuries TerreBlanche, 69, sustained.

The trial resumes on January 30 in the High Court sitting in Ventersdorp.

MUSICIAN 'JUB JUB' MOLEMO MAAROHANYE

THE families of four schoolboys killed during a freak accident involving Maarhohanye and his co-accused, Themba Tshabalala, may finally get closure this year.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala allegedly crashed into the group of schoolboys while racing along Mdlalose Street in Soweto in March 2010.

They were allegedly speeding in their Mini Coopers when they hit the boys, who were walking home from school.

Andile Mthombeni, 19, Prince Mohube, 17, Mlungisi Cwayi, 17, and Phomello Masemola, 16, died instantly, and two other boys were injured.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala face four charges of murder and two of attempted murder, as well as charges of driving under the influence, and reckless and negligent driving.

The court heard that a cocktail of drugs was found in urine samples of the accused . Both have pleaded not guilty.

The trial resumes on February 20 in the Protea Magistrate's Court, when cross-examination of Maarohanye is scheduled to continue.

SIBUSISO LANGA

MECHANICAL engineer Sibusiso Langa faces five charges of murder after his car crashed into a group of joggers in Midrand in October.

The businessman, who lives in an upmarket golf estate in Midrand, was arrested and released on bail of R80000 after he allegedly ploughed into six joggers while driving his silver ML Mercedes-Benz. His bail conditions included the surrender of his driver's licence.

Moroese Mokoatsi, 34, Reneilwe Lesenyeho, 31, Given Mills, 30, Isaac Tlale, 37, and Nomvula Dumako, 35, were killed.

A sixth runner, Khanyiswa Stengile, the only survivor, was rushed to hospital, where she underwent surgery.

Langa, 43, is due back in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on February 17, when his blood-test results are expected to be submitted.

SHRIEN DEWANI

THE British businessman has launched multiple legal battles to avoid standing trial for the murder of his new bride, Anni Dewani, in November 2010.

The couple had been married for only 17 days when, while in South Africa on honeymoon, he allegedly hired hit men to kill his Swedish bride. The 28-year-old was shot dead after a taxi in which the couple were travelling was allegedly stopped by gunmen in Guguletu.

The couple's driver, Zola Tongo, has since been convicted and jailed for 18 years after entering into a plea bargain with the state. He claimed that Dewani ordered the hijacking and paid for his wife to be killed.

Two other accused, Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe, face charges of murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. They are both in custody.

Dewani has repeatedly denied any involvement in the murder. However, South African authorities have successfully applied to a UK court to have him extradited to stand trial.

He has appealed against the ruling, and a final decision is pending. Judgment is scheduled to be handed down during the next legal term, which begins on January 11.

His lawyers have argued he is too ill to be extradited and that his life and health would be at risk if he were sent back to Cape Town .

THANDI MAQUBELA

THE trial of the widow of murdered Western Cape Judge Patrick Maqubela continues in the High Court in Cape Town in July. The body of the judge was found wrapped in a sheet, with a bloody pillow covering his face, in an apartment in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, on June 7 2009.

His wife was arrested in March 2010at her Sandton home in Johannesburg. She is out on bail of R100000. She and co-accused Vela Mabena are accused of killing the judge by suffocating him. Mabena is out on bail of R20000.

Maqubela is also alleged to have forged the judge's will and to have fraudulently presented it to the office of the Master of the High Court. She faces two additional charges of fraud and forgery. Both have pleaded not guilty