Poortman court case postponed
The bail application of three of the four accused in the murder of captain Kenneth Poortman has been postponed to Monday 18 January .Poortman's wife, Ann Poortman learned of his death after she rushed to the scene of the discovery as part of her duties as a media spokesperson for the police.
Tshegofatso Ngobeni
The bail application for three of the four accused in the murder case of captain Kenneth Poortman has been postponed to 18 January.
The fourth man, Steven Meda abandoned his application after his lawyer discovered he was in the country illegally.
Last week Tuesday, Sipho Tlou (25), Thabo Mampa (age undisclosed) and Themba Mbowane (34) appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for a bail application.
Their then lawyer, advocate Mogashoa, withdrew from representing them, claiming they could not afford to pay for his legal fees.
This was followed by another drama, when chief magistrate Desmond Nair asked Mampa and Tlou why they had asked for a Setswana interpreter when the language was not their mother tongue, to which they replied that their former lawyer had made the decision.
In the end, the accused would have Shona, Sepedi, Seswati and Tsonga interpreters.
The men are now represented by Leonie Els from Legal Aid, whose first order of business was to withdraw Meda’s application for bail.
Nair reminded the accused that they were charged with a schedule six offence, which placed a greater burden on them to prove exceptional circumstances existed for the granting of bail.
Usually bail is granted when the presiding officer is satisfied that it is in the interest of justice to do so, but for schedule six offences the accused must demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
Captain Poortman’s wife, Ann Poortman learned of his death when she came to the scene as part of her duties as a spokesperson for the Central police station.
The captain’s body was found on the side of the Mabopane highway on 27 December. He had been shot in what appeared to have been a hijacking. His car and gun were later found during the arrest of the men now standing trial for his murder.
Also read:
Latest suspect appears in court for cop murder
Two to appear in court after police officer’s murder
Police official killed during hijack
More arrested after police officer’s murder
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