The 30-year-old man accused of raping and murdering four-year-old Bokgabo Poo will remain in custody until next month while he waits to hear whether he will be tried in the high court or regional court.
He appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on February 14 where his matter was postponed to March 30 to receive further instructions from the Gauteng director of Public Prosecutions.
The accused faces charges of kidnapping, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and violating a corpse.
At his previous court appearance on November 14, he abandoned his bail application.
Two matters against the 30-year-old were brought before the court at his previous appearance – the alleged rape of a nine-year-old Benoni girl and the Bokgabo matter. At the time of Bokgabo’s murder, the accused was out on bail for the alleged rape of the girl.
Community members were again seen in large numbers outside the court calling for justice.
Bokgabo’s mother Tsholo Poo broke down outside the court while chanting along with community members. ’Sixolela kanjani uma amagwala sebebulele uBokgabo’. This means, ‘‘How do we forgive when the cowards have killed Bokgabo”.
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