PALM RIDGE – Owein Lombard was fatally shot on June 9, 2012 in Michelle Avenue and the Lombard family still hold strongly that justice will be served.
According to Michael Julian Sinequan’s attorney, Shafique Sarlie, the docket reveals the following, which has never been reported before: “Accused Michael Julian Sinequan approached his attorney when he realised, from local and national media sources, that he was responsible for a man’s death.
Michael Julian Sinequan’s attorney told him that the police would not confront him as the police did not have the details or description of the vehicle and person involved in the crime.”
Sinequan responded by saying that he would not be able to live with his conscience. “Yes, I killed a man but I am innocent,” said Sinequan.
According to Sarlie, the docket revealed that “there was some silly driving going on between the accused Sinequan and the deceased Lombard before both motorists came to a halt”.
He also said that before Sinequan could register what was going on, he felt blows or punches coming from Lombard into the car. “He was basically on top of his wife (in the passenger seat) to try and avoid the punches from outside the car,” said Sarlie.
Sinequan remembered his firearm in the holster at his side and fired one shot before driving away. “He basically shot blindly because the area where it happened is a high crime zone,” continued Sarlie.
Although the defence and representatives of the deceased were adamant to continue with the trial, Magistrate Mrs Singh said that it would take too long to fill out the trial forms and would have to set a date for the trial.
The trial is set for April 15 and 16 at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, where a different state prosecutor will pursue the matter as the previous state prosecutor, Johan Olivier, was not available for the allocated court days.
The defence also mentioned that no more than four witnesses would be presented, two of whom do not reside in the area and would have to plead via video link.
Magistrate Mrs Singh concluded by extending Sinequan’s bail application.
