Things took a turn for the worst yesterday for the accused in the so-called ‘assault-murder’ case when the charge was changed from assault to murder.
This comes after the State finally received the report from the hospital that confirmed that the victim’s death three days after the assault was positively related to the assault. The magistrate immediately moved the case to the Roodepoort Regional Court, Court K, where Magistrate Delize Smith will be presiding. In Court K, the girlfriend of the accused, who is also the daughter of the deceased, sat with the accused, silently sobbing. The rest of the family who attended the hearing sat separately.
Magistrate Smith explained to the accused what the sentence would be should he be found guilty: For a first offence murder, he would be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years, for a second such offence, the sentence is a minimum of 20 years, and for a third such offence, the sentence is a minimum of 25 years. She added that in terms of the Older Person’s Act 13 of 2006, five years would automatically be added to the sentence.
Magistrate Smith said his bail would remain the same – R800.
The accused applied for legal aid.
The family’s representative and son of the victim, Clinton de Beer, told the Record after the hearing that the family is pleased that the charge has been changed, but they did not agree with the bail that has remained the same.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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