CASE AGAINST FIVE MURDER ACCUSED POSTPONED FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION
The Koster Magistrates’ Court postponed the murder case against Stefan Nel (54), Donovan Martin (20), Mustafa Alberrtyn (39), Wayne Schroeder (52) and Adam Barnard (24) to 09 January 2023, for the appointment of a Legal Aid attorney, for accused 2 to 4, and for further investigations. An application to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West for the matter to be transferred to the high court has also been submitted. The charges against Lourene Janse van Niewenhuisen, were provisionally withdrawn, pending the outcome of the investigations. The five are facing a charge of murder, defeating the ends of justice and possession of unlicensed firearms.
They were arrested on 21 December 2022, following the disappearance of Klaas Mosimanyana Jobontho (32), who was reported missing between 16 and 21 December 2022, in Koster. Police investigations led them to a plot in Doornlaagte, and upon their arrival, they were denied access by some of the accused. What became more suspicious to the police officers was people running between buildings, upon their arrival.
The police managed to gain entry and they allegedly discovered traces of blood on the floor and a sleeping bag. Further dragging trails of blood led them to a storeroom where they found a decomposed body, with hands tied with indications of severe beating. Two firearms and ammunition were also recovered. Police investigations are still underway and a post-mortem is also conducted to establish the cause of death.
All five will remain in police custody until their next court appearance, where they are expected to register a formal bail application.
