The state has a prima facie case against the accused and he failed to submit to the court exceptional circumstances that would permit his release on bail.
These were the words of Regional Magistrate, Renier Boshoff in the case against Jonas Ramokola who is accused of killing Alex businessman, Mbopha Mashigo.
In his affidavit submitted in support of his bail application, the accused told the court that he is married and a father of three children. He went to school until Grade 11 and has been an Alexandra resident since birth.
State prosecutor Godfrey Maphiri submitted cell phone records that prove that on the day the deceased was killed, the accused was in the vicinity of where the murder took place. During his arrest, the accused made a statement to the arresting officer that he doesn’t know anything about the murder and that on the day in question, he was at his home.
Read: UPDATE: Mbopha murder suspect remanded in custody
This was a clear contradiction to what was picked from the cell phone records and the defence failed to dispute the evidence submitted by the state.
The case has been postponed to 15 March for further investigations.
