The four men charged with the rape and murder of teenager Franziska Blöchliger at the Tokai Forest appeared briefly in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday where their case was postponed to next month for a formal bail application.
As the men were being led to the dock from the courtroom cells they were greeted by murmurs from dozens of activists who packed courtroom four to capacity.
Three of the suspects were being represented by a legal aid lawyer, while the fourth attained the services of a private attorney.
One of the men was originally only facing charges of possession of stolen property, but the State informed the court that “at this stage he cannot be excluded from the other crimes”.
All four accused face charges of rape, murder and aggravated robbery.
The State will be opposing bail when the four appear in court again on April 5.
As they were led down the dock, activists and concerned residents from West Lake and surrounds chanted “no bail”, with some of the accused glaring at them as they were led down to the cells again.
They are to remain in custody at the Pollsmoor prison until their next court appearance.
Blöchliger was found murdered almost two weeks ago after the 16-year-old had separated from her mother at Tokai forest to go for a run. Her body was discovered roughly 200 metres from the meeting point her and her mother had agreed on.
– African News Agency (ANA)
