Ex-jockey drops murder bail bid
MURDER-ACCUSED former jockey Graham Gregorowski has abandoned his bail bid.
Gregorowski, 29, who allegedly killed his partner Janet Scott, 54, a prominent member of the Shongweni community, made a brief appearance in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning.
Dressed in a collared shirt and jeans, the accused cast a slight figure behind the dock. He tried to hide his face from journalists as they took his picture. Gregorowski was yesterday expected to continue with his part-heard application for bail, but at the start of proceedings his new lawyer, Gareth Brimelow, addressed the court.
“My instructions are to abandon the bail application,” he said.
Asked by magistrate Terrence Buthelezi to confirm that this was his decision, a soft-spoken Gregorowski whispered: “Yes sir, I do.”
Reasons for his decision were not provided. Members of Gregorowski’s family were not in court yesterday, but members of Scott’s family were seated in the gallery.
Her brother, Rob Scott, said outside court that they were pleased Gregorowski would remain behind bars for the time being, but did not wish to comment further.
It was reported in The Mercury’s sister paper, The Independent on Saturday, that neighbours found Scott’s bruised and battered body at the Cliffdale Road home – near the Shongweni Polo Club – where Gregorowski lived, on the morning of Saturday, October 22.
He was arrested at the scene.
People at the scene described it to the paper as “gruesome”.
The Independent on Saturday reported that at a previous court appearance, an emotional Gregorowski told the court that he had been out drinking on the night of Scott’s death. He said when he returned home, he and Scott – with whom he had been in a relationship for three years and who was visiting at the time – argued and he “slapped her in the face”.
He said he had gone to the bathroom to shower and when he had come out, he found her “awkwardly positioned” and “bleeding from her nose”.
He claimed he had tried to resuscitate her and that when this was unsuccessful, he had tried to kill himself. Gregorowski also told the court he suffered from bipolar disorder and had stopped taking his medication.
Public prosecutor Nqobile Malinga yesterday told the court the State would require transcripts before the trial and the matter was adjourned, by consent, until February next year.