Pyne applies to remove magistrate from case
The accused has now hired a private attorney to represent him.
Represented by a newly appointed private attorney, Jaén-lee Pyne appeared in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court on April 22.
This is his fifth legal representative since the start of the case, which has been ongoing since 2023 and includes charges of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and malicious damage to property.
During his previous appearance on April 16, the court was notified that Pyne’s Legal Aid SA representative would no longer represent him as Pyne believed the representative was not fit or proper to be his lawyer.
This came after he had previously insisted that Legal Aid SA provide him with a lawyer.
During opening remarks, Pyne’s new attorney stated she had received instructions to bring an application for the recusal of magistrate Michael Twala from the case.
Twala has presided over the case since November after the previous magistrate was also served with a recusal.
Another application was lodged to obtain court transcripts so Pyne’s new attorney could prepare for the case.
The case was postponed to June 3 for the recusal application.
Pyne is still out on bail of R500 for the GBH and malicious damage to property case, but is still in custody for the murder of a man whose body was found buried in a shallow grave on a property where Pyne previously lived.
Pyne also has another case pending against him for the murder of Etienne du Preez and the attempted murder of Flip Minnaar, as well as a drive-by shooting case in Brakpan.
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