Luke Fleurs’ murder: Bail application of 6 accused postponed

While football fans are still mourning their beloved Luke Fleurs, the six people charged with his murder and hijacking have made another court appearance for their bail application.

Fleurs (24) was tragically shot after a hijacking at a petrol station near Constantia Office Park on April 3.

The accused, Ndumiso Mswane, Fernando Siva, Nlhakanipho Dlamini, Franky Xaba, Maredi Mphahlele, and Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu, made a brief appearance on Friday morning in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court for their bail application.

In their second appearance, the girlfriend of Ndumiso Mswane, accused number one, explained that accused number two, Fernando Siva, called Mswane and informed him that parking was needed for an abandoned car they found.

According to Thubelihle Mswane, the brother of Ndumiso, he admitted to taking the car he allegedly found abandoned in Slovoville, Soweto, but denied being involved in the hijacking.

The accused face charges of murder, robbery in aggravated circumstances, and defeating the ends of justice. They pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ingrid Mainule, the defence attorney for accused one to three pleaded their innocence and said they had zero connection with the murder and hijacking of the deceased.

“The suspects do not have previous convictions or pending cases, except for suspect six, Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu, who was previously convicted in 2015 at Carletonville Magistrate’s Court for housebreaking with the intention to steal and theft and was sentenced to four years.

“In 2017, Hlomikhawu appeared at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, where he was sentenced to two years for housebreaking with the intention to steal and theft,” Moshibushi Molefi, the defence attorney for accused four to six said.

The bail amount for each suspect brought forward was R1 000 and they will be assisted by their families.

The case was postponed to May 2, as the state needs to verify certain aspects of the bail application documents.