/ 26 February 2013

Court enforces tough access control during Anene Booysen case

Magistrate Graham Cupido ruled that the two suspects hide their faces as to not jeopardise the investigation.
Magistrate Graham Cupido ruled that the two suspects hide their faces as to not jeopardise the investigation.

Select family members were allowed in beforehand on Tuesday and filled up the four wooden benches. About three media houses and their photographers were let in.

The remaining reporters were told they could not enter because they had not gained approval beforehand.

Booysen (17) was gang-raped and disembowelled after visiting a club on Friday, February 1. Her body was found at the Asla Magwebu construction site, where she worked, not far from her RDP home, the next morning. She died in hospital that night.

Two men, aged 21 and 22, have been charged with the crimes and were set to appear for their bail applications.

At the pair's last court appearance on February 12, magistrate Graham Cupido ruled that their faces not be shown in the media because the State believed this could jeopardise the ongoing investigation.

Women and Children Minister Lulu Xingwana on 12 february said the two men accused of killing the teenager must not be granted bail.

Xingwana said tough sentences could be a deterrent to criminals that abused and killed women and children.

The minister attended the court hearing two weeks ago and sat next to Booysen's relatives, comforting them with hugs and words. The case was postponed to Tuesday for bail applications. – Sapa