Alleged Metro cops killer to go on trial soon
JOBURG – The man accused of killing two on-duty Metro police officers will soon answer to charges laid against him.
The case against the man accused of killing two on-duty Metro police officers was postponed at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
The postponement was granted at the request of the defence.
On 14 June, the accused appeared briefly before Magistrate Gideon Schnetler. State Prosecutor Ayanda Bakana told the court that they were ready to proceed, but defence attorney, Rudi Krause requested a postponement. Krause is the new attorney for the accused.
Albert Pretorius of Paulshof is accused of killing two on-duty Metro police officers, Winnie Mokgolo (35) and Sophie Ngoasheng (45) on Witkoppen Road in Fourways on 29 January.
The officers were conducting a roadblock when the man allegedly ploughed into them driving a Toyota Hilux, killing the two officers and injuring others.
Pretorius is charged with two counts of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.
He is currently out on R10 000 bail, after spending more than three months in prison as an awaiting trial prisoner because he was denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court. During the ruling for his bail application, the court found that Pretorius failed to submit substantial reasons that would justify his release on bail, especially when taking the serious charges he is facing into account.
In his affidavit in support of his bail application, the accused told the court that he has been on medication since December and suggested that the medication could have played a role in the incident.
He petitioned the High Court on 4 May and Judge Ramarumo Monama granted the bail.
The case has been provisionally postponed to 18 July for a trial date to be arranged at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
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