The murder case against Blue Bulls rugby player Jacobus Stephanus “Bees” Roux was postponed to December 10 in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Roux, who was out on R100 000 bail, stands accused of murdering 38-year-old Tshwane metro police officer Ntshimane Johannes Mogale in August.
Magistrate Desmond Nair, in accepting the state’s request for a postponement to allow for further investigation, said he was carefully watching the time frames, postponements and reasons thereof.
“I will keep a careful eye on the duration. We need to get to the trial expeditiously.”
Roux, dressed in a cream striped shirt and black trousers, stood in the dock with his hands clasped, looking straight at Nair as he spoke.
Family and friends of both Roux and the deceased stood inside the packed courtroom.
Most seats were occupied by metro police officers while others made way for families to sit.
Roux was arrested after Mogale’s body was found lying in Schoeman Street, Pretoria, with head injuries. He had reportedly earlier pulled Roux over for suspected drunken driving.
Fraud
The man who allegedly stole Roux’s credit card at the scene where Mogale was beaten to death also appeared in the same court and had his case postponed to December 10.
Vusimuzi Ntloko wore a white shirt and white striped jacket with prints. The reason for the postponement was that the state was still tracing a second accused and there was outstanding forensic evidence, including video footage.
Ntloko stands accused of 13 counts of fraud.
According to the charge sheet, R3 798 was spent at Makro in Hatfield on August 27. This transaction, and others amounting to more than R4 000, took place within minutes at various liquor stores and meat markets and included the purchase of cigarettes.
Other purchases, totalling about R500, were made at Kentucky Fried Chicken. — Sapa