Two men under police investigation for murder and armed robbery appeared in court on Monday for the murder of the detective who had investigated the two charges.
Ebraheem Jacobs (25) and Garth Leetz (26) appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court before magistrate Mogamad Esau, who remanded them to May 18.
They are charged with the murder of Detective Inspector Lourens le Roux, who was gunned down outside the Woodstock police station on April 12.
Prosecutor Juanita Swart told the court she would, at the next court appearance, inform defence lawyers Michael Jennings and John Riley what charges the two men would face, in addition to the murder.
On the Le Roux murder charge, Jacobs and Leetz are to launch a joint bail application on a date still to be set.
Because the case involves the murder of a police official — calling for prescribed life sentences if found guilty — the two men would have to satisfy the court that there are exceptional and compelling circumstances justifying their release on bail.
Swart said the defence team would inform her at the next hearing what compelling and exceptional circumstances Jacobs and Leetz would rely on at their bail hearing.
No sooner had the two returned to the court’s holding cells than Leetz stepped back into the dock with a different co-accused, Faaik Woodman, both charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. This charge has nothing to do with the Le Roux murder.
In the firearm case, Leetz was called by his alias, Galiep Jacobs. In this case, both were remanded to May 18 as well. — Sapa