Elim murder accused ordered to stay behind bars

MURDER-accused and alleged rapist Teshwill van der Rhede, 32, will remain in custody after the case against him was postponed at the Bredaasdorp Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Van der Rhede, who is accused of the murder of Elim woman Charlene October, faces charges of murder, housbreaking and theft.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila previously confirmed Van der Rhede, who was known to the victim, appeared on further charges in a non-related rape and family violence interdict matter.

The case against Van der Rhede was yesterday postponed to October 21 for further investigation.

He allegedly broke into a tuckshop on October's premises before entering her home and murdering her while she was home alone with her one-monthold granddaughter.

The granddaughter was found unharmed just hours after October was murdered, when October's son went to the home to collect his baby.

Van der Rhede, at his previous court appearance, abandoned his bail application while residents of the Elim community picketed outside court opposing bail.

Motivating in a petition why they did not want Van der Rhede back in the mission station community, residents said they feared for their lives and felt vulnerable.

“At the moment, our children have been robbed of their freedom to play outside without fear.

“It would be better for the accused to remain behind bars as the tensions in the Elim community are very high and the safety of the accused cannot be guaranteed.

“We have to ensure that the law is not taken into (people's) own hands,” the petition read.