UPDATE: Psychological report delays case against apartheid cop
Marais, who is out on bail of R5 000 under the condition that he does not interfere with State witnesses or communicate with his co-accused, will appear in court again on March 25.
The Pretoria High Court postponed sentencing in the murder case of Johan Marais (65) of Springs after it was revealed on January 27 that his psycho-legal report was not finalised.
The court found Marais, a former apartheid-era police officer, guilty in November of murdering Daveyton anti-apartheid student activist Caiphus Nyoka.
He admitted responsibility for Nyoka’s killing, which occurred on August 24, 1987.
His guilty plea led to an early judgment, while the trial of his co-accused, Leon Louis van den Berg, Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander, also former apartheid policemen, continues in a High Court sitting at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.
Also Read: Apartheid cop (65) pleads guilty, found guilty of murdering Daveyton activist in 1987
Nyoka was a prominent leader of the Congress of South African Students in Daveyton and coordinator for Transco East Rand.
Members of a police unit allegedly established to ‘deal’ with terrorism fatally shot him.
During court proceedings in November, Marais’ attorney read a statement detailing how Marais unlawfully and intentionally killed Nyoka by shooting him with a firearm.
“The deceased was opposed to the apartheid government and frequently challenged its discriminatory policies. His involvement in educational and local politics led to him being identified as a threat to the apartheid regime,” the statement read.
Marais, who is out on bail of R5 000 under the condition that he does not interfere with State witnesses or communicate with his co-accused, will appear in court again on March 25.
Also Read: Slain Caiphus Nyoka honoured at wreath-laying ceremony
