COURT DENIES BAILS TO 21 OLD MEN ACCUSED OF MURDER
The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court denied Cuan Karelse (21), from Standerton bail. He is facing a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition as well as a charge of murder for killing a 57-year-old woman Renee Lea also from Standerton.
It is alleged that on 24 August 2024, in the afternoon the accused slipped into the deceased place of residence as she was driving in her vehicle. It is alleged that the accused tied her up, robbed her of her belongings, wrapped her with a carpet put her in the boot of her car and drove with her to Pretoria.
When the deceased daughter could not get hold of her on the phone, she called the tracker company to allocate the car. The tracker company then located the car at a petrol station in Moreleta, Pretoria while the accused was inside the shop. The petrol attendants identified the accused as the person who was driving the vehicle. The tracker company personnel then apprehended the accused when they opened the boot of the car. The deceased body was found with cables around her neck and mouth covered with tape. Police were called and the accused was arrested.
In court, he asked to be released on R1000 bail because he wanted to take care of his pregnant girlfriend. The prosecutor, Chris Maruma opposed the accused release on bail and told the court the state had a strong case and overwhelming evidence against the accused. Furthermore, Maruma said, should the accused be released on bail, he might evade trial. Magistrate Msulwane agreed with the state and found that the accused failed to convince the court that exceptional circumstances exist that warrant his release on bail. Therefore, bail was denied. The accused is remanded in custody.
The matter was postponed to 05 December 2024 for further investigations.
