Family 'disappointed' by triple murder court delay
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma is awaiting an extradition hearing in South Africa.
The family of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, have expressed their "disappointment" following a delay in court proceedings related to their deaths. The three were discovered deceased at their residence in Great Denham, near Bedford, on July 6.
Nothabo's husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, is currently being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, after being apprehended on unrelated firearms charges. British authorities have sanctioned three murder charges against him.
Scheduled hearings on Thursday concerning the firearms charge and his potential extradition were deferred after his defense counsel requested additional time.
In a statement, the family conveyed that any postponement was "difficult" as it extended their wait for resolution. They stated: "The Khumalo and Magonya families, while disappointed at the further postponement, place their trust in the full administration of justice. As another school year approaches in England, our thoughts are particularly with the lives and futures that Nothabo, Natalie and Nala should have been living."
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a 45-year-old British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, was arrested in Johannesburg on July 10 on an unlicensed firearms charge. He subsequently appeared in court accused of unlawful possession of firearms. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized three murder charges against him.
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that the state has received all necessary documentation from UK authorities to support the extradition proceedings.
The extradition proceedings have been rescheduled for September 10, while the hearings pertaining to the firearms charge are set for September 8.