Man in court ‘in boxers’ over killing aid worker John

THE alleged killer of Irish charity worker John Curran, who was stabbed to death in South Africa earlier this month, has appeared in court dressed in his boxer shorts.

Congolese-born Mitspa Mzakombo Onyoka, 24, was arrested in a dawn swoop by police on Friday, following a tip-off, just 8km away from the murder scene.

Prosecutor Adiel Jansen said Onyoka had been charged with the brutal murder of father-of-four Mr Curran and aggravated burglary.

The accused was dressed in blue and white boxer shorts, flip flops and a T-shirt in court, and he was granted the services of an interpreter and legal aid to seek bail.

Prosecutor Mr Jansen told Cape Town Magistrates Court: ‘The man who is the victim here was very benevolent to Cape Town society.

‘He was found murdered in his flat and quite a number of items were taken. [Onyoka] has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery and is currently in custody.’

He requested permission from magistrate Greg Jacobs for the police to take blood samples from the accused to match it with DNA.

Mr Jansen said investigators were also seeking information through diplomatic channels with police in the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding any previous convictions.

Mr Curran’s body was found at around 10.30am on November 7, in the Cape Town property where he had been staying.

CCTV pictures of the suspect entering the flats and leaving were circulated by the police following the grim discovery.

It is understood the arrested man is believed to be the person captured in the footage. In the images, the man can be seen standing in the lift with a mobile phone in his hand.

Mr Curran, 60, was stabbed up to 20 times in an attack police believe may have been carried out in a bid to steal his mobile phone, which he had bought just hours earlier.

A post-mortem revealed the retired school principal, who had been working with the Mellon Educate charity in South Africa, was also hit over the head with a ‘blunt instrument. It’s understood a knife was recovered at the apartment.

Mr Curran previously lived with his family in Churchtown, south Dublin, before moving to South Africa in 2016. Onyoko was remanded in custody until December 3 at Cape Town Police Station holding cells and was led away half-dressed by officers.