Two in court

Two accused appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 14 November, for formal bail applications following two murders and robberies with aggravated circumstances during October.

Both Nazeem Petersen and Lira Langiso lost their lives during these armed robberies on 12 and 19 October respectively.

Petersen was killed at the Corner Shop in Marlin Street in Extension 13. Langiso, a 38-year-old Ethiopian national, was killed at a shop in H Dangatye Street, JCC Camp.

Family members of both the victims and accused were present in court, while several community members were gathered outside the court.

Two Public Order Policing Unit vehicles were outside.

The accused appeared on schedule six offences, which means only under exceptional circumstances, bail is granted, and the onus of proving these circumstances lies with the accused.

The state opposed bail. The charges include murder, robbery with aggravated assault, reckless and negligent driving as well as theft of a motor vehicle.

Accused number one in these matters said in court that he would not be proceeding with his bail application at this stage; his case was postponed to 29 January.

Accused number two's bail application was started and will continue on 6 December. Both accused remain in custody.

The reasons the state is opposing bail includes that the accused might be a flight risk and a danger to the public, himself and to state witnesses. He said he would adhere to his bail conditions, were he to get bail.

During questioning by the state, he said he had been the driver in the incident on 12 October.

When the state asked how he ended up being the driver, his lawyer requested that the court remind him that he was under no obligation to answer these questions during the bail application.

He then declined to answer any further questions.