UPDATE: Suspect in court for attempted murder of homeless men

A 38-year old man accused of the attempted murder of two homeless men appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Monday. Manusi Mothupi allegedly tried to kill two homeless men in Sunnyside.

This was after a string of killings in Muckleneuk and Sunnyside in May and June.

Five bodies of homeless men were found in the areas in four weeks, fuelling speculation a serial killer was on the loose. All the victims were middle-aged homeless men and were targeted at night. Only three of the five dead men have since been identified by investigators.

Mothupi was previously arrested and released from police custody. National prosecuting authority’s spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane previously said the case could not be put on the court roll as he had been under arrest for longer than 48 hours, without being charged.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Three homeless men killed in Pretoria identified

“According to the law an accused person must appear before court within 48 hours of arrest. This is to afford the accused a fair judicial process.”

Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubela said Mothupi was arrested following “police investigations”.

The case was postponed to 26 August, when Mothupi was expected to apply for bail.

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