Grenade attack accused denied bail
DURBAN magistrate Vanitha Armu rejected ex-air force officer Joel Mohoasa’s bid for bail yesterday, saying the crime, in which his wife was killed by an exploding grenade, was a “callous act” carried out despite their two young children being in the home.
Mohoasa, a former air force lieutenant-colonel, is charged with the murder of his wife, Lesego, and possession of explosives in connection with the August 30 incident at their eManzimtoti home.
Their two children, 5 and 8 years old, were in another room of the house at the time of the explosion and were not injured.
They are staying with their mother’s family.
Speaking outside court yesterday, advocate Paul Jorgensen, who acted for Mohoasa, said his client would appeal against the decision.
During his bail application, Mohoasa testified that the two grenades found in the home were not his and that he had not “pulled the pin” on the grenade that had exploded.
The State had not opposed bail as the investigating officer said he did not believe Mohoasa would evade his trial or interfere with State witnesses.
Jorgensen argued that his client should not be kept in custody just to “punish” him.
He said there were “good prospects that Mohoasa could be acquitted” as there was no fingerprint evidence from the grenade and the State was relying on the testimony of one witness.
But in a surprise move, Armu rejected this argument and said she also did not agree with the investigating officer as this was “not an average murder”.
Mohoasa had testified that he had not “been on the run” after the incident and said he had contacted the investigating officer two days later to hand himself over.
He said he had left the house, despite being worried about his children, because he had been shocked and confused.
Mohoasa had also testified that his wife was abusive, he had an interim protection order against her and she had attempted to kill him by pouring brake fluid over him and threatening to set him alight.
He said she had also stabbed him in the left arm and he now had only limited use of it.
But Armu said she believed it was not “in the interests of justice” to release Mohoasa.
She said there was a prima facie case against him as an eyewitness, the wife’s relative, had allegedly seen him throw the grenade and flee the scene.
She said there had been a “nationwide manhunt” for Mohoasa and he had shown no concern for his children.
“Which concerned father of two young children would leave them after an explosion? He had no regard for his children or what had become of them.”
She also said the allegation that Lesego was abusive was not justification for her to be killed.
“The eyewitness’s account is that he (Mohoasa) allegedly locked the gate at the house and left after throwing the grenade.” The case was adjourned to October 15.