Bail denied: Murder-accused Sonell Joubert remanded in Tonga court
Despite Sonell Joubert’s legal team's submission of a supplementary affidavit claiming self-defence, Joubert remains in custody until March 27 for further police investigations.
Magistrate Ningi Neko denied Sonell Joubert’s (43) bail at the Tonga Magistrate’s Court this morning, February 24.
This came after her legal team entered a supplementary affidavit on her behalf on February 18, the day Neko was about to deliver judgment on her first bail application held on February 10.
In the affidavit read by her attorney, Marco Lamberti, she claimed she had acted in self-defence when Jurgens Nel, whom she painted as an aggressive man, attacked her on February 3. Joubert informed the court that she was going to plead not guilty to the charges.
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This morning Neko said the new affidavit did not shed more light on the events of February 3, but was more of a response to the evidence presented by the investigating officer, Sergeant Given Nguyuza. She said the defense had an opportunity to dispute Nguyuza’s damaging evidence, but failed to do so.
The court heard for the first time about the injuries Nel had sustained during the altercation, which had led to his death. According to Neko’s analysis of the evidence, Nel had six serious stab wounds while Joubert’s injuries were an injury to a finger and a cut below the eye.
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The magistrate said Joubert could not be trusted, and that the case was closely followed by the public and media. In the judgment, Neko said Joubert claimed she had 10 employees who were dependent on salaries from her, but she (Joubert) failed to prove it with supporting documents.
The witness in her case also had an employer-employee relationship and the court said this could spark witness interference by Joubert.
Joubert failed to convince the court of any extraordinary circumstances why she should be granted bail.
Lamberti said he will be requesting leave to appeal.
The case was postponed until March 27 and Joubert will remain in custody.
