Patel denied bail in Mothilal murder case.
Muhammed Patel who is charged with the murder of his childhood friend, Jonah Mothilal, was denied bail when he appeared last Tuesday, August 20, in the Newcastle Magistrate's Court.
Magistrate Shabangu ruled that bail for Schedule 6 offences is not automatically granted and emphasized that the onus is on the accused to prove ‘exceptional circumstances’ that justify release before trial.
The hearing followed a previous court appearance on August 7, where Patel’s defence had responded to the testimony provided by the investigating officer, Sergeant S. Mngomezulu. At that time, Magistrate Shabangu had postponed the matter to deliberate and prepare her judgment.
During the August 7 hearing, the defence argued for Patel’s release on bail, contending that the state’s case relied on circumstantial evidence that Patel was not a flight risk, that he was the primary breadwinner for his family, and that he would not tamper with evidence or interfere with witnesses.
In her judgment, Magistrate Shabangu noted that she had carefully reviewed the affidavits to determine if exceptional circumstances were present. Ultimately, she concluded that the circumstances presented by the applicant did not warrant bail, as the interest of justice outweighed Patel’s interest in being released.
Following the ruling, Jonah’s father, Sam Mothilal, expressed gratitude to everyone who supported the petition, believing that their backing played a significant role in the decision to deny bail.
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