Mom ‘killer’ bail hearing delayed again

A 34-year-old man accused of assaulting and murdering his 69-year-old mother will spend another weekend in custody as his bail hearing will be heard on Monday.

Larry Masienyane yesterday appeared briefly in the Protea magistrate’s court in Soweto where he faces one count of murder. Masienyane allegedly brutally murdered his mother, Ethel Masienyane, in their Orlando West home on February 9 after they argued about money.

He allegedly punched and kicked his mother, breaking her ribs and causing her to suffer internal bleeding. Ethel died two days later from injuries she sustained during the attack. Angry community members hauled Masienyane to the Orlando police station after hearing of Ethel’s death on February 11. Magistrate Audrey Mpofu postponed the matter to February 25 as Masienyane’s charge sheet was outstanding. Prior to her death, Masienyane had laid charges of theft, common robbery and assault against her son, dating as far back as 2017.

They claimed that Masienyane would still be alive if the police had intervened in the abuse she suffered from her son, who allegedly assaulted her and robbed her of her money over the years.

Police spokesperson Constable Monica Hangwani confirmed that six cases had been registered at the Orlando police station and that they were all withdrawn at a later stage.