Latest news with #premeditatedmurder
The Herald
06-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Sangoma implicated in toddler's murder makes U-turn on bail
The sangoma who was arrested in connection with the premeditated murder of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba has made an about-turn and wants to apply for bail. Sebokoana Khoanyana, 50, made a brief appearance on Thursday and his matter was postponed to June 25 for a formal bail application. Khoanyana appeared alongside Kutlwano's mother, Keneiwe Shalaba, 33, who is accused of lying about her son's disappearance in November 2024. Shalaba is also facing charges of premeditated murder. Khoanyana had initially requested that an attorney be made available so that he could plead guilty but was advised by the court that it was not the right time to plead. His lawyer, Gladmore Nyamande, said his client had a previous conviction of assault in 2019, which he believes was withdrawn. He was also convicted of possession of dagga but got a suspended sentence. Speaking to reporters shortly after the matter was postponed, Nyamande said: 'On his first appearance, he was not aware of his legal rights when he told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. 'According to his rights, the first thing he needs to do is to apply for bail and this matter will go further than the magistrate's court. We are not at the stage [of the trial] for him to plead guilty. He is flip-flopping; we don't know. When we come back, he might say he wants to abandon bail. 'On the day [of his first appearance] he just thought that by appearing and saying he wanted to plead, then the whole matter would be finished,' he said.
The Herald
04-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Parolee disguised as woman kills farmer for cash, gets life in jail
'The accused got out of the vehicle and was dressed in Muslim women's clothing with only his eyes visible. The traffic officers who testified as state witnesses found the injured elderly man in the passenger seat. They noticed blood on the door of the passenger side as well as inside the vehicle. Herandien had been stabbed. They asked him who had stabbed him, and he pointed at the accused, ' said Ntabazalila. The traffic officers led the vehicle to a roadblock, where the driver was arrested. The stabbed farmer was then declared deceased. 'Police found a knife blade in the vehicle, a makeup kit, a lady's bra, contact lens holders, syringes and black material in a bag. It was evident that the accused wanted to hide his identity,' said Ntabazalila. Erasmus was convicted of premeditated murder, and the state asked for life, arguing he could not be rehabilitated. 'He was on parole when he committed the murder, and he is currently serving the rest of his previous sentence of 32 years, of which five years are left,' said Ntabazalila. Previous convictions include: theft (1992); two counts of attempted murder (1999); two counts of robbery (1999); four counts of possession of an illegal firearm and possession of illegal ammunition (1999); malicious property damage (1999); assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (1999); theft (1999); escape or attempt to escape from custody (1999); and reckless and negligent driving (1999). 'The offences were committed in the Eastern Cape, where the accused and three others shot at police in Steytlerville. They fled the scene, and police arrested them in Beaufort-West. Police took them to Correctional Services in Steytlerville. They asked the head of the prison to make a call, assaulted him, took firearms from the safe and escaped from prison. Police arrested them later,' added Ntabazalila. In her victim impact statement, the farmer's wife said they had been together for 42 years, since the ages of 17 and 19. TimesLIVE
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Marysville man pleads guilty to murder for 2023 Boulevard Park killing
A Marysville man pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder in relation to a fatal 2023 shooting in Bellingham on Monday. Elijah James Belmont, 23, was arrested in late 2023 after allegedly confessing to shooting and killing 48-year-old Henry Howard King of Bellingham in a park. King died on the boardwalk between Taylor Dock and Boulevard Park from multiple gunshot wounds around 4 a.m. March 12, 2023. His body and personal items were found floating in Bellingham Bay about three hours later. According to the state, Belmont and King did not know one another or have a history together. Belmont's sentencing is scheduled for Thursday morning in Whatcom County Superior Court. Memorial bench installed for man killed last spring at Bellingham's Boulevard Park Here's how Bellingham police tracked down the man accused in Boulevard Park killing 'He didn't deserve to be treated like this.' Whatcom community remembers shooting victim
The Herald
12-05-2025
- The Herald
Charge against Evans changed to premeditated murder
Gqeberha father Rob Evans now faces a charge of premeditated murder, a Schedule 6 offence. Still wearing the blue checked shirt he was arrested in at his Newton Park business premises on Friday, the 58-year-old briefly took to the dock of the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday afternoon. The case against him was postponed to May 16 for a formal bail application. It is understood Evans will plead not guilty. He is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, at his Oyster Bay holiday home on or about April 20. Initially arrested for murder, a Schedule 5 offence, the state amended the charge to include premeditation on Monday. The key difference for bail applications lies in the burden of proof. For Schedule 5 offences, the onus is on the accused to prove they should be granted bail, while for Schedule 6 offences, the accused must demonstrate 'exceptional circumstances' to justify their release. The Herald
