The man accused of shooting three-year old Luke Tibbett and 26-year Keenan Mokwena in Westbury appeared in the Sophiatown Magistrate’s Court today. Tibbett is still in Netcare Garden City hospital, in a critical condition.
The accused, seemed unshaken as he stood before Magistrate Koos Pretorius in a courtroom packed with community members and the media.
The magistrate warned that their was little chance of the accused receiving bail.
“Because of the age of the victim and because of previous crimes committed it’s unlikely you will receive a light sentence either,” Magistrate Pretorius said.
The accused has three alleged murder trials pending in the Johannesburg High Court, not including these two new charges for attempted murder. The case has been postponed to 12 August.
Outside the court Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane appealed to Westbury community members who had witnessed the crime to come forward.
Patricia Viljoen, neighbour of the Tibbetts, said that Luke’s family are keeping up a brave front. “They’re trying to stay strong. But we as a community want to be strong for them. Little Luke didn’t deserve this. He was such a sweet boy. We want the truth.”
