It would be unfair to deny the accused bail if it was going to take up to four months to compile the evidence.
FOUR murder accused – two brothers, their father and a cousin from Kimberley North – were granted R1 000 bail each in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The four – Nailon de Kocker, 26, his younger brother Clive de Kocker, 21, their father Clide de Kocker, 54, and a cousin, Ian Ebere, 27, were arrested following the death of Cirtus Delano Mathane, who was brutally attacked on Sunday, December 1.
The four were each granted bail of R1 000 each yesterday. They have to report to Detective Warrant Officer Pam Mafaro’s office three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – as part of their bail conditions.
They are also not allowed to have any contact with the witnesses, most of whom live in the same area, Kimberley North, as them and the deceased.
Mafaro, who testified on Monday, told the court that outraged residents allegedly had to intervene when the victim was assaulted after he was accused of stealing a cap and a pair of sneakers from his assailants.
Mafaro stated in her testimony before the court that the deceased had been accused of robbing three of the accused, namely Nailon, Clive and Ian, during the early hours of the morning on their return from a nightclub
The three, according to Mafaro, then went to fetch their father.
They allegedly assaulted their victim with a sjambok and a golf stick before stabbing him.
Mafaro stated that Mathane was still alive when his alleged attackers, who also got into an argument with community members, left the scene.
Mafaro added that the items that they accused the victim of stealing, namely the cap and sneakers, were not found on him following the assault.
The four accused also did not open a case of theft with the police.
According to Mafaro, evidence in the case will include the results of the post-mortem, photographs from the scene, the forensic report and witness statements.
She estimated that it would take up to four months for these to be completed.
State prosecutor Philemon Mathiba agreed that it would be unfair to deny the accused bail if it was going to take up to four months to compile the evidence.
The case will resume in January 2020.
