PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay community threw their weight behind efforts to keep local Penelope (Penny) Cumming’s alleged killer behind bars.
By the time of this article going online, more than 1 500 residents had signed a petition in a bid to see bail denied for the man who allegedly raped and murdered the 63-year-old Knysna Sedgefield Hospice nurse on 29 January.
Cumming’s naked and bruised body was discovered in her Schoongezicht Country Estate home in Piesang Valley Road by a friend at about 05:00.
Police said was believed to have been strangled and raped. Her home was also ransacked and her Volvo SUV stolen.
Her vehicle, which was set alight and partially destroyed, was later recovered in Nekkies in Knysna.
Following cooperation between various security stakeholders including Bitou Law Enforcement, the police and the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) the suspect, believe to be about 25 years old, was tracked down to Kwanokuthula where he was found hiding near a school.
Following his arrest the suspect appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with among other charges, rape and murder.
After a brief court appearance, the matter was postponed to 21 February for a formal bail application.
The accused also applied for legal aid representation.
Local resident Joanne Barrett said once she heard that the suspect intended to applying for bail, there was massive outcry from the community and therefore she decided to start a petition against his release.
“I have drawn up the petition form requesting residents to help us keep the accused behind bars, denying him bail for the horrific crime he has allegedly committed.
"We just ask residents to kindly sign the form. We need as many signatures as we can,” Barrett said.
She added that she had been involved in similar initiatives in the past and found community outcry played a role in the court’s decision to grant or deny bail to a suspect.
“The community’s voice is heard and our safety is taken into account. We cannot be ignored.”
Barrett said the petition would be handed to the magistrate on the day the accused applied for bail.
She added that the petition had been left at various main shopping points in Plettenberg Bay.
A WhatsApp group has also been established to garner signatures.
Barrett said by the time of going to print they had managed to collect more than 1500 signatures.
Read more in Thursday's Knysna-Plett Herald as well as online.
Read previous articles:
- Estate murder: Residents gather at court
- Plett estate murder: Community in shock
- Estate murder: Community to stand together
- Plett estate murder: Man arrested
- Update: Woman murdered at upmarket estate
- Woman murdered at upmarket Plett estate
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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