Trial date to be set for murder accused Suleman Tayob
Tayob faces murder and aggravated assault charges after a teenager died following an alleged assault last year.
Murder accused Suleman Tayob made a brief appearance in the Newcastle Regional Court on Thursday, August 13.
Tayob is charged with the murder of 17-year old Henrico Oosthuizen, who was fatally assaulted in the early hours of December 7.
Tayob (26) was granted bail of R2500 in the Newcastle District Court on December 24, despite the efforts of a small group of Henrico’s friends and family who staged a protest outside the court, objecting to Tayob’s release.
A group of Henrico’s family and friends was also present in the public gallery for Tayob’s appearance on August 13.
Tayob, a former learner of Lincoln Heights Secondary School, is also charged with an aggravated assault on Henrico’s friend, Diederik Marx.
According to a police report issued by SAPS spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam, late last year, Henrico and Marx were at Melo’s Pub & Grill around 02:00 when there was an altercation outside between a white man and a black man.
Police suspect that the altercation may have been racially motivated, but this was yet to be investigated at the time.
It is alleged that a pursuit ensued when the black man fled, with several of Melo’s patrons joining the chase, Henrico and Marx among them.
Police outline events leading to teen’s death
According to Arumugam, Henrico and Marx were on foot in Gemsbok Street when Tayob approached them in his bakkie.
Tayob got out of his bakkie and there was a heated exchange of words between him and Henrico and Marx.
It is alleged that Tayob then grabbed a metal pipe from his vehicle.
Witnesses told police that Henrico and Marx first thought that Tayob was reaching into his vehicle for a firearm and started to run away, but returned to confront him when they came to realise that Tayob was in possession of a pipe and not a gun.
Tayob allegedly struck Henrico on the head with the pipe and he fell to the ground.
It is further alleged that Marx was also struck several times with the pipe when he intervened, and sustained injuries to his arm and shoulder.
Tayob then drove off and Henrico and Marx went to a friend’s house to sleep over.
Henrico was rushed to Mediclinic Newcastle Hospital at about 03:00 after he began having seizures.
Unfortunately, Henrico passed away.
During his bail hearing, Tayob stated in an affidavit that he acted in self defence and intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
The case was postponed to September 1 for the state prosecutor to make further particulars available to Tayob’s defence attorney and for a pre-trial conference to be held.
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