Alleged mercenaries might appeal this week, and other brief reports

* The Supreme Court of Appeal is to hand down judgment on government’s new medicine pricing regulations on Monday. Pharmacy groups took to the courts in May in an effort to overturn the regulations, which they said were vague and unworkable. – Business Day * A ruling on Monday by Chilean Judge Juan Guzman Tapia placing dictator Augusto Pinochet under house arrest after he was charged with murder and kidnapping, has been suspended following an appeal by his lawyers. The judge ruled that Pinochet would go on trial on nine charges – one relating to a murder and the others in connection with kidnappings. – News24 * Portia Joseph (28) appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates’ Court where she is facing charges of beating her month-old baby boy to death because he cried uncontrollably. Joseph will make her second court appearance on December 20 for a Legal Aid representative to be appointed and for a formal bail application. – The Herald * A 28-year-old car guard has appeared briefly in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court where he is facing charges of robbery, attempted murder and rape in connection with an attack on German tourist Monika Hoeglsperger (31) while hiking along Platteklip Gorge in the Table Mountain National Park last week. Hoeglsperger, who has agreed to be named, was the third tourist to be attacked this month.– Cape Argus