Court C in the Limpopo High Court in Thohoyandou was packed on Friday during the trial of former Malamulele traffic officer Masingita Chabani.

Chabani (47) stands accused of abducting Hlulani Maswanganyi (17) and her one-month-old son, Trinity Mbavala, in 2015. Mbavala was later found alive and reunited with the family.

It was testified that Hlulani had sent an SMS to relatives during the incident, informing them that she feared for her life and that she was travelling to an unknown destination with suspicious people.

Hlulani is presumed dead after the confession by Chabani's accomplice, Steven Sithole. In a separate trial, Sithole confessed to the killing and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He has since turned state witness in the case. Even though he confessed, Hlulani's body has not been found.

The trial has been on for two weeks now and many witnesses, including relatives of Hlulani and Chabani, have been called to the witness stand by the State.

On Friday, local medical doctor Dr Khamusi Mudau, who had treated the former traffic officer, took the witness stand.

The trial was then adjourned to 1 September (Friday), when a cell phone expert will take the stand.

A comprehensive report of the case will appear in our printed edition on Friday.