Simao to ‘plead guilty’ to all charges in Amantle Samane’s murder case

Rape and murder accused, Phethe Simao, is expected to plead guilty to all charges when he returns to the Johannesburg High Court on August 11.

The 24-year-old Mozambican national is facing multiple charges linked to the brutal rape and murder of six-year-old, Amantle Samane, in Soweto last year.

Simao appeared in court on Thursday morning, where he was expected to enter a plea and for the trial to get underway.

During a pre-trial conference, Simao initially indicated he would only plead guilty to contravening the Immigration Act.

However, his lawyer, Advocate Lindiwe Vilakazi, has since confirmed to YNews that Simao now intends to plead guilty to all the charges.

“According to our instructions, we are going to plead guilty to all the charges levelled against our clients,” Vilakazi revealed.

The 24-year-old remains in custody and faces charges of kidnapping, rape, murder, and contravening the Immigration Act — all linked to Samane brutal murder, which occurred last October.

The then six-year-old disappeared from her Orlando West home just days before her preschool graduation. Her body was found in a backroom in Zola where Simao had been staying, three days after her disappearance.

Simao remains behind bars after abandoning his bail application. Written by Lebohang Ndashe