/ 26 June 2007

Capacity crowd in court for Petersen appearance

The Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town was packed to capacity on Tuesday during the bail application of Najwa Petersen, who is alleged to have murdered her husband, popular entertainer Taliep Petersen.

The case was called before magistrate Jackie Redelinghuys, who at the request of prosecutor Shireen Riley postponed the combined bail application of Petersen and her three alleged accomplices to July 3.

Riley is attached to the Western Cape directorate for public prosecutions, and the case has been assigned to her due to its high profile.

With Petersen (45) in the dock were Abdur Raasiet Emjedi, no age given, Waheed Hassen (34) and Jefferson Tion Snyders (30), all of whom were arrested on June 18. They face charges of murder and aggravated robbery.

Riley, who had hoped to dispose of the brief proceedings first thing in the morning, had to wait for the four suspects, who had not yet arrived.

She later explained to the magistrate that they had been transferred from the Bellville South police cells to the police cells at Parow, and confusion about this had caused their late arrival.

Riley said it had been agreed with the defence team that the bail application would be scheduled for July 3.

At her request, Petersen, Hassen and Snyders were transferred back to the Bellville South police cells. — Sapa