The court is leaving no stone unturned in the case against the man accused of killing two Metro police officers at a roadblock on Witkoppen Road in Fourways.
On 8 February, the accused 41-year-old Paulshof resident, Albert Pretorius, appeared in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for his formal bail application.
Pretorius is charged with two counts of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Magistrate Renier Boshoff postponed bail application proceedings. The postponement had to do with the court’s request for the state to submit photos from the accident scene on the day in question. Boshoff said he wanted to see if everything on the road was clear, including the roadblock itself.
In his affidavit that he submitted for his bail application, Pretorius told the court that at the time of the accident, he was travelling at about 80 km/h. “The visibility of the road was affected by the dark conditions that prevailed at the time and I could not see any roadblock.”
He further went on to state how he was allegedly assaulted by several metro police officers, before being arrested.
In his affidavit, he also pointed out that on the day in question, he had only consumed three bottles of alcoholic beverages. No detailed explanation is given on the type of beverage or the size of the bottle. The accused also pointed out that he is on some medication that was prescribed by a chiropractor in December.
The accused said if released on bail, he will not evade trial. The case has been postponed in order for the state to submit photos requested by the magistrate and judgment on the bail application is expected to be handed down on the same day.
Also read:
#WitkoppenRoad: Alleged Metro cops killer denied bail
Killed Metro police officers laid to rest
UPDATE: Herman Mashaba visits one deceased officer’s family
