Suspect in brothel murder released from cells

A 20- YEAR- OLD Rocklands woman accused of the murder and robbery of an Oranjezicht brothel owner was released on bail yesterday at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.

Octavia Mulder was accused with her boyfriend Trevor Daries, 26, after Pedro Lopez, 38, was found dead at the Oranjezicht house in May.

Lopez had been stabbed 20 times, suffering wounds to his back, chest, arm and feet, and had bite marks on his shoulder. The marks will be compared to dental impressions of the couple. Daries remains in custody after abandoning his bail application earlier.

The court heard previously that Mulder worked for Lopez as a make-up artist during the 2010 June school holidays, earning up to R100 for each prostitute’s make-up, five days a week.

In a confession, which Mulder said she made while under the influence of drugs, she said she asked Lopez for money he owed her. The court heard she was addicted to heroin and had been to rehab, but had relapsed several times.

The State alleged that Lopez refused to pay, after which there was a scuffle between him and Daries. The couple allegedly demanded that Lopez open his safe, and fled with his cellphone. Mulder was arrested at the house the next day and Daries was arrested later.

The couple were before magistrate Alfrieda Lewis yes- terday. Lewis released Mulder with an instruction that she and Daries return to court on September 4 for further investigation. The only condition was that she stay at her house in Rocklands with her parents.

Lewis said Mulder had said she needed bail so she could attend rehab. She was not currently using drugs, and had no previous convictions.

Gonville Michaels, for Mulder, said her family had R1 000 for bail, which Lewis accepted.