Action Society confirms that the murder trial of Nadia Lotz will resume on 19 and 20 January 2026 following a firm ruling by the court in November 2025 rejecting the defence’s Section 174 application to dismiss the charges. The magistrate found that the State has presented sufficient evidence for the trial to continue, compelling the accused, Charles Appolis, to take the stand.
Lotz was brutally attacked on 4 March 2023. She was stabbed three times and had her throat slit while seated in a vehicle, allegedly by Appolis, her boyfriend. In a desperate attempt to escape the attack, she leapt from the moving car and collapsed on the road, where she later died from her injuries.
At the most recent court appearance, the defence argued that the evidence presented by the State was insufficient to sustain a conviction. After hearing eyewitness testimony, considering forensic and photographic evidence, the magistrate firmly rejected the application, ruling that the State has established a case to answer.
Members of the media are invited to attend the court proceedings as the trial continues.
- Date: 19 and 20 January 2026
- Time: 08:30 for 09:00
- Place: Strand Regional Court, 1 Gordon’s Bay Road, Strand, Cape Town
Action Society’s Head of the Action Centre in the Western Cape, Kaylynn Palm, said the ruling marks an important step toward accountability. “For nearly three years, Nadia’s family has lived with delay after delay, each one reopening their trauma. The court’s refusal to dismiss this case sends a clear message that serious violence cannot be argued away. We will continue to attend court and apply pressure until justice is served.”
