BRITS, September 28 (ANA) – A North West farmer facing murder and two counts of attempted murder will know on Friday whether his bail application at the Brits Magistrate’s Court, was successful.
Magistrate Jethro Mosime was expected to deliver the ruling after the State and the defence closed their arguments on Wednesday. The hearing was postponed to Friday, to enable the court to deliberate on the arguments presented. The State is opposing the bail application.
Matthew Benson, 24, is accusing of the murder of Tebogo Ndlovu and the attempted murder of his two friends.
The State alleges Benson fired shots at Ndlovu, 24, and his friends on August 2, the trio from Majakananeng near Brits apparently went to the Mooinooi farm intending to steal scrap metal.
Benson alleged spotted them, chased after them and fired shots at them hitting Ndlovu, his friends attempted to carry him while fleeing from Benson but, he was too heavy for them and they left him behind under a tree. He had not been seen since August 2, his friend escaped unharmed.
Jeff Moyo for Benson had argued that the state’s case against Benson was weak. He said it was in the interest of justice to release him on bail.
He referred the court the State vs Pieter Doorewaard and Phillip Schutte in Coligny, the two were granted bail despite violent mass protest. They were accused of killing Matlhomola Mosweu.
Prosecutor Cassius Mona told the court the case against Benson was strong.He said Benson was a flight risk now that he knew the magnitude of the case against him, he might interfere with witnesses and investigations, because the police need to trace the people seen at the crime scene.
He argued that it was not necessary to found the missing person body to charge a person with murder, he referred the court to the State vs William Nkuna, in which Nkuna was convicted and sentence for the murder of police Constable Francis Rasuge, although her body was not found.
– African News Agency (ANA)
