Murder suspect denied bail

SHAHEED Leen (42), the prime suspect in the Whitmore double murder, was denied bail when he appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

According to the magistrate, Leen was unable to provide “exceptional circumstances” to prove he should be granted bail. He will appear again on November 27.

He was arrested in Cape Town on October 21 after police were able to locate him in the Bonteheuwel area.

The father of five children, aged between 23 and five, claimed he was not in Gauteng in 2011, the year in which Percy (70) and Noeleen (65) Whitmore were murdered in their Bonaero Park home on August 4.

However, his fingerprints were found on the crime scene.

According to the investigating officer, W/O Jan Makhura, fingerprints found on a steel box on the crime scene were those of Leen, which led them to believe he was linked to the crime.

The police had also obtained blood samples from the suspect which had been sent for DNA tests to further confirm whether Leen was in the Whitmore’s home at the time of the murder.

Leen is facing two counts of murder as well as one of house robbery as it was reported that some of the Whitmores’ belongings were taken from their home.

During the hearing, Leen admitted he had three previous convictions, namely two of assault and one of theft.

W/O Makhura, however, added that Leen was also convicted of possession of a dangerous weapon in 1989 and attempted murder in 2002. The defence stated that although Leen said he could only recall three of his previous convictions, he had no recollection of the 1989 charge and stated that the attempted murder charge was possibly the assault charge he had admitted to in his affidavit which was placed on record.

It was also revealed during the hearing that Leen was living with his girlfriend at the time of his arrest and was employed as a general worker at a company in Cape Town.

The magistrate reminded Leen that although granting of bail was dependent on various factors, including the strength or weakness of the state’s case, he should be mindful that the accused’s ability to prove there were circumstances that indeed made him a suitable candidate for bail would also be taken into account.

Although he has admitted his previous convictions, there is forensic evidence that links him to the crime scene. Additionally, the fact that he resides in Cape Town while the case is proceeding in Kempton Park, also makes him a less suitable candidate for bail.

The magistrate added that the circumstances presented to the court were ordinary and therefore the application was denied.