Update
KNYSNA NEWS - The jury is still out, so to speak, on whether Molosi-accused Mandla Tyololo will be granted bail as his bail application saw yet another postponement last week.
Tyololo, who was the Knysna Taxi Forum secretary at the time of his arrest, stands accused of conspiracy to commit the murder of Knysna ANC councillor Victor Molosi who was gunned down metres away from his home in July.
Jeppe challenged some of the statements contained in investigating officer Barnard Wilson's report that was read out in court by prosecutor Vandana Premchard.
He reiterated a previous request to the court that his client "should not be stripped of his freedom and kept in custody", and countered Wilson's contention that Tyololo's release on bail might be disruptive to the community – a community that relies on the court to serve its best interests. Jeppe argued that the community's interest in and reaction to the case are not reasons enough for the court to refuse his client bail, adding that the court is there to serve justice, not the community.
Jeppe also said that Wilson's statement is flawed and based on speculations, and that the state needs to "present evidence substantiated by facts".
He told the court that should his client remain in custody his children would suffer, his business would come to an end, his taxi would be repossessed and that he would suffer damage to his reputation.
'Not enough evidence'
In Wilson's statement he alleged that if the accused is released on bail he will pose a danger to society and abscond, which Jeppe refuted, saying there isn't enough evidence to substantiate this argument.
Jeppe also highlighted the fact that Wilson being in charge of two sensitive cases – the conspiracy to commit murder case against Tyololo and the premeditated murder charge against *three others – means the boundaries are blurred.
Jeppe added that the case could eventually be transferred to the regional court, which is already postponing matters to 2019 and that Tyololo's case will possibly only be heard in 2020, meaning he would spend at least three years in custody.
Prosecutor Premchard conceded this point but added that if Tyololo is granted bail it is highly probable that the community would take the law into their own hands.
The magistrate postponed the matter to 26 October for judgement.
* The bail applications of Knysna councillor Velile Waxa, Knysna municipal official Mawande Makhala and Cape Town resident Vela Patrick Dumile, charged with schedule 6 premeditated murder, will be heard in the Knysna Magistrate's Court on 24 October.
Read previous articles:
- 'R150 000 to murder Molosi'
- Molosi accused stays in jail for now
- Stumbling testimony of Molosi murder accused
- Update: Victor Molosi murder trial
- Molosi trial: Suspect remains in custody
- Bail application: Victor Molosi Murder
- Protest ahead of court proceedings
- Molosi Murder suspects to appear in Court A today
- Suspects charged with premeditated murder
- Councillor arrested for murder
- Councillor arrested for Molosi's murder
- March proceeding 'peacefully' into Knysna
- Saying goodbye to a local legend
- Victor Molosi laid to rest
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
