JOHANNESBURG - Nthutuko Shoba's application for leave to appeal his conviction and sentence was heard without him being present in court.
Shoba was found guilty of masterminding the brutal killing of his pregnant girlfriend, Tshegofatso Pule in 2020.
His lawyer argued that a different court may have a different view of the evidence by Muzikayise Malephane who confessed that he was contracted by Shoba to kill Pule.
Shoba's lawyer says the judge acknowledged that Malephane's evidence needs to be approached with caution.
The state opposed the application.
Judgment will be handed down on 28 November.