This, after a week-long murder trial where Sekwetje Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa, accused of murder, robbery, and stock theft, stood for trial. Musi's judgment is much anticipated following a serious turn of events at this trial in the Circuit High Court sitting in Bethlehem, with witnesses changing their testimonies from their founding affidavits.

So far, no material evidence such as DNA, cellphone movements, and witness statements have linked the suspects to the murder of Horner. This case once evoked many emotions in South Africa which even led to chaotic protests outside the Senekal Magistrate's Court where the duo first appeared.

It is in this protest that a police van was set alight and gutted by fire. Following this chaos, two men - André Pienaar and Stephanus Johannes Fourie - were arrested and charged by the police for attempted murder and malicious damage of property.

READ MORE: Senekal protestors' case postponed

However, Mahlamba and Matlaletsa were nabbed in 2020 after the body of Horner was discovered, tied to a pole in an open space situated at De Rots on 1 October 2020. According to information received, police received a call from other farmers reporting the attack.

Before the trial, the two men were released on R5000 bail each after spending a few months in jail.

Mahlamba was first denied bail in the Senekal Magistrate's Court whilst Matlaletsa was released on R5000 bail but his release was short-lived as the police again nabbed him for a separate stock theft matter.

However, Mahlamba and his attorney, Joseph Kgoelenya, unsuccessfully took the matter to the Free State High Court as judge Celeste Reinders denied Mahlamba bail.

Following the DNA revelation that failed to link the two suspects, both counsels for the accused approached the court once again to seek bail on new facts, and this time they both succeeded and were released on bail at the said amount.

READ MORE: #BrendinHorner: 'DNA results do not link suspects'

Later on, the state prosecutor withdrew from the case. According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) regional spokesperson in the Free State, Phaladi Shuping, the prosecutor was booked off sick.  A new prosecutor came in and the matter was finally set in the Circuit High Court sitting in Bethlehem. This is where the state saw its case against the two men, with witnesses changing testimonies.

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