Murder accused Julio Nobrega has hired a new lawyer – his third so far – and has to fork out R80 000 in transcript fees to help him catch up, reports News24.

This emerged when the new lawyer, Sham Govender, represented Nobrega during his appearance in the KZN High Court (Durban) on Monday.

Nobrega is accused of ordering his employees to bludgeon his 74-year-old neighbour, SA Navy veteran Ken Price, to death.

He allegedly believed Price was spying on activities at the panel beating business he ran from home.

State Advocate Thabani Buthelezi requested an adjournment to give Govender time to catch up with the proceedings by going through the transcripts of the trial.

‘It will cost an arm and a leg. That’s a five-week trial that needs to be transcribed,’ Judge Mluleki Chithi pointed out.

The case was postponed to 14 August 2025. 

Price, who lived alone in Malvern, was killed in November 2021. His decomposing body was discovered in Richards Bay in May the following year.

Nobrega and his three employees, Nathan Padayachee and siblings Matale and Nikkiel Pillay, were arrested in connection with the murder.

Price’s remains were found after Padayachee, who has since died, pointed out where the body had been dumped.

Matale and Nikkiel became state witnesses.

Full News24 report