Six in court after opening of the season death

SIX young suspects arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Curtley Alexander during the opening of the season festivities at the weekend appeared in separate courts yesterday.

Faizel Davids, 20, Fergil Fillis, 19, and Shuaib Slabbert, 18, appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court, where the case was postponed to December 28 for a formal bail application.

The three showed no emotion as they sat in the dock.

The three other suspects, who are minors and cannot be identified, appeared in the Nerina House juvenile court, where their case was also postponed to December 28 for a bail application.

All six suspects, aged between 15 and 20, are being held on a charge of murder.

Alexander’s body, with a stab wound to the chest, was discovered at Hobie Beach at 4.45am on Sunday.

The discovery was made only hours after the annual season opening celebrations on Saturday evening.

According to Alexander’s uncle, Deon, the Grade 9 Arcadia High pupil visited family in Summerstrand that evening and planned to attend the beachfront celebrations later.

Following five arrests, police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a sixth suspect handed himself over at the Humewood police station on Monday evening.

Naidu said the three suspects who appeared in the magistrate’s court would be detained at the North End Prison, while the juveniles would be held at Nerina House.