Latest news with #bailapplication
The Herald
9 hours ago
- The Herald
Bail application in Walmer double murder case postponed
The formal bail application of two men accused of murdering a Collegiate Girls' High School pupil and her mother will continue on August 29. Alleged hitman Sibulele Mzilikazi, 28, and his co-accused, Siyabonga Ntswahlana, 35, appeared briefly in the Gqeberha magistrate's court on Tuesday, where the matter was postponed to later this month due to the unavailability of one of the defence attorneys. They are accused alongside Luzuko Tsotsi, 31, and Nceba Maji, 44, of murdering Lusanda Coboza, 40, and her daughter, Hailie-Jade, 19, at their Walmer Township home on May 1. Tsotsi and Maji remain in custody, while Mzilikazi and Ntswahlana had brought a fresh bid for bail after previously abandoning their applications. Their matter is part-heard. All four accused have indicated that they will plead not guilty to the double murder. The family had been at home in their Sakhasonke Village, Walmer Township home, when gunmen stormed in and opened fire at about 8.30pm. Coboza and Hailie-Jade died at the scene. The state believes the hit was due to infighting within the taxi industry and that the mother and daughter were not the intended victims. The Herald
News24
6 days ago
- News24
Cop on trial for ex-partner, priest's murders ‘used custody of kids for own gain', court hears
Sergeant Mokgesseng Moleko, accused of the murder of his estranged partner and a Catholic priest, appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for his bail application. Phill Magakoe/Gallo Images Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once. Start your FREE trial now Show Comments ()
The Herald
24-07-2025
- The Herald
Defence pokes holes in state's case in Jayden-Lee murder trial with Bolt trip timeline evidence
A critical piece of evidence presented during the fourth day of Tiffany Meek's bail application in the Roodepoort magistrate's court has cast doubt on the timeline provided by the state regarding her whereabouts on the day her son, Jayden-Lee Meek, was found dead. Tiffany Meek, 31, from Fleurhof, accused of killing her 11-year-old son, faces charges of murder, crimen injuria, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. Meek's legal representative, advocate Noven Naidoo, handed over records of e-hailing service Bolt showing she only left her mother's house at 5:12am on the morning of May 14, contradicting a security guard's statement that Meek entered her residence at 4am and departed at 5am. According to the records, Meek was picked up at her mother's house and dropped off at the Swazi Place complex at 5:22am, after she allegedly received a phone call informing her that her son's body had been found near the staircase of her house. Meek's attorney argued that this documented timeline proves Meek could not have been at her residence between 4am and 5am, as claimed in the guard's occurrence book (OB) entries. In addition to the timeline dispute, the court heard there were discrepancies in the descriptions of what Jayden-Lee was wearing on the day he disappeared. The descriptions provided by the mother, a teacher and the security guard differed. 'My client will state that she helped him get dressed that morning, and he was wearing grey long pants, a white shirt, a tie and black takkies on the day,' Naidoo submitted. Investigating officer Sgt Linda Duma said he could not comment on what the child was wearing on the day he disappeared because he got the information from the people who had seen Jayden-Lee on the day. Naidoo also drew the court's attention to inconsistencies in the OB kept at the complex gate. Copies of the OB for May 13 and 14 presented in court reflected that the first recorded report of Jayden-Lee's disappearance was only made after 8pm on May 13, long after Meek claims she notified the security guard at about 5pm. According to Naidoo, Meek had informed the day shift guard her son was missing, left her contact number and told him to call her if the boy returned. No such entry exists in the OB. Naidoo questioned why no earlier note was made and pressed the investigating officer on whether pages might be missing. He said on the day Jayden-Lee's body was found, Meek's family had attempted to photograph the OB book and noticed a missing page. 'There is no record of this in the OB,' the investigating officer responded and acknowledged that he did not certify the OB book copies submitted to court, citing a heavy workload. Questions also emerged around the legality of the security guards. When asked about their immigration status, Duma admitted he did not know, confirming only that they were Congolese nationals. Naidoo pointed out that South African law prohibited undocumented foreign nationals from being employed in the private security industry. The bail hearing will continue Friday. TimesLIVE
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Ex-Ryanair pilot charged over €10m cannabis seizure to have material independently analysed, lawyer says
A lawyer for a former Ryanair pilot charged in connection with the possession of more than €10 million of cannabis has told a court that he is in the process of having the material independently analysed. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, solicitor Ted McCarthy said the independent analysis of the material would help determine a bail application for Brendan O'Mara. Advertisement Mr O'Mara (62), of An Tulach, Summerhill, Meelick, Co Clare, was making his fifth court appearance concerning the Garda seizure of cannabis worth an estimated €10m at Mr O'Mara's Clare home on May 7th. The pilot appeared in court on Wednesday via video-link from a booth at Limerick prison after a judge refused Mr O'Mara bail at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on May 10th following Garda objections. Sgt John Burke said on Wednesday that the Garda investigation was complex and 'involved the seizure of €10 million worth of cannabis'. He said two gardaí are employed full-time on the investigation and that it involves international inquiries and ongoing inquiries into devices that were also seized. Advertisement Mr McCarthy said: 'I take on board what the State has said. We ourselves are in the process of having the material independently analysed.' He added: 'Dependent on the outcome of that will determine our bail application, which is imminent, it has to be said, and the State is aware of that.' Mr O'Mara faces two charges – possessing cannabis for sale or supply and possessing cannabis on May 7th. At the contested bail hearing on May 10th, gardaí told the court Mr O'Mara made no reply to the charges after caution, and that 'further, and more serious charges' may be brought against him in respect of the case where gardaí seized an estimated 502kg of cannabis. Advertisement Sergeant Rob Sheehy of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit said he was objecting to bail because of the 'strength and nature of the evidence' as well as the high value of the drugs. He told the court that the Garda investigation was in its 'infancy', but he said gardaí believed that 'it stretches to a number of countries and there are a number of persons that need to be established'. He claimed Mr O'Mara was also a flight risk due to his 'aeronautical knowledge', that he has a number of pilots licences, and has links to the USA. Applying for bail on May 10th, solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused has 'three pilots licences including a helicopter licence, a UK pilot licence and a EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) licence', but he would hand these over to the State and not leave the country. Advertisement 'His Ryanair crew card is being returned to his former employers,' Ms Godfrey said. Ireland Football supporters' Ryanair Dublin flight disrupt... Read More Ms Godfrey said a sister of Mr O'Mara was in the court and had pledged to act as an independent bail surety for the accused for up to €177,000. Appealing for the court not to hold the accused in custody, Ms Godfrey said Mr O'Mara 'has offered up all the means he could to leave this country' and has significant ties here. She said, 'He enjoys the presumption of innocence.' Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Mara in custody to re-appear at Ennis District Court on July 9th and said that if he secures bail in the meantime that he must appear in person.
The Herald
11-06-2025
- The Herald
‘This is not a rehearsal for trial' — magistrate in Evans case
'A bail application is not a rehearsal for trial.' These were the words of magistrate Deidre Dickson in the Humansdorp Regional Court on Wednesday morning. Dickson said for the past three weeks she had cleared her criminal and civil rolls, often sat through lunch and tea breaks, and sometimes ended court late to accommodate murder accused Rob Evans' application for bail. Evans is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, at his Oyster Bay holiday home over the Easter weekend. And while Dickson stood firm in her views from Tuesday that 'speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail', for the sake of not wasting any more time, she gave defence attorney Paul Roelofse the floor to continue with his line of questioning. Roelofse had been busy with his cross-examination of investigating officer Warrant Officer Xolile Kato on Tuesday when Dickson interjected. After Roelofse raised questions about possible alternative suspects, or how someone else could have entered the house where Van Rensburg's body was ultimately found, Dickson said speculation would not assist her in deciding if Evans should be granted bail. A visibly frustrated Roelofse had then asked for an adjournment to consider his position. Later in the day, he returned to the courtroom with a fresh application to formally challenge the magistrate's ruling. Roelofse argued that questions about locked doors and potential entry without force were crucial to ensuring a fair bail application for his client. Delivering her ruling on Wednesday, Dickson said: 'A bail application is not a criminal trial, it is also not a rehearsal for trial. 'Speculation will not assist the court to decide on bail. If this were a trial and bail had been finalised, then this would have been a different [scenario].' She said the bail application was already in its third week. 'This court will not unreasonably cut short or restrict cross-examination. 'The test here is the prima facie evidence. The court doesn't want to prolong the matter unnecessarily even further. 'Be that is it may, Mr Roelofse, I don't want to waste any more time, I have stated what the situation is. 'If you want to put more scenarios in front of the court then so be it, but let's finalise this matter. 'Everyone in this court needs this application to come to an end now.' The matter was postponed to Friday. The Herald
