FOLLOW-UP: Banks wife, son seek bail

Mother and son, Patricia (53) and Jarren Banks (30) will remain behind bars until February 1 when their formal bail application will be heard in the Benoni District Court.

The two are accused of murdering local businessman and co-owner of Boden Chem Group, John Hamilton George Banks (62), in July.

They were arrested on January 17 at the family’s Benoni Small Farms home and remanded at the Benoni Police Station following a brief appearance in court the following day.

While standing side by side in the dock, the accused ’s defence expressed dissatisfaction that the matter had been postponed, stating that the pair had been detained for more than seven days.

It was explained that due to scheduling constraints, the matter could not be heard earlier.

The State requested a postponement due to the case docket only being handed in shortly before the proceedings.

The prosecutor said she needed adequate time to peruse the voluminous docket and the evidence contained therein.

Two affidavits from the accused were read before the court.

They stated they feel that they are being forced to make incriminating admissions due to being incarcerated at Benoni SAPS holding cells.

Furthermore, Patricia and Jarren had experienced great grief following Banks’ death and they feel that they are being subjected to a smear campaign.

According to the affidavits, Patricia and Banks were married for 18 years and Jarren was legally adopted by the victim at the age of 15.

In 2021, the couple founded the water bottling and treatment company in Jatniel and Jarren worked there as a manager.

The affidavits stated the pair were not flight risks.

Magistrate Smita Naidoo said the accused will be remanded at a correctional facility pending their next appearance.

Background
Information regarding Banks’ disappearance was circulated by the Vulnerable Citizens Support Initiative, after he was reported as missing by the accused on July 19.

At the time, the information indicated that he was last seen leaving his home at 07:00.

On July 20, members of the Bedfordview Police Station responded to a call at the Elandsfontein train station, where a burnt body had been found.

An inquest docket was opened.

The following day, the victim’s burnt-out vehicle, a Land Rover, was found in Birchleigh.

Following a forensic investigation, the remains were positively identified as those of Banks.

The Norkem Park and Bedfordview SAPS dockets relating to the separate crime scenes were transferred to the Benoni SAPS to centralise the investigation.

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