Camps Bay hotel murder case postponed

Diego Carlos Estuardo Dougherty Novella made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

 

The case was remanded to Friday, possibly for a bail application to be scheduled.

 

The 43-year-old appeared before magistrate Joe Magele.

 

He is charged at this stage with premeditated murder, but prosecutor Carmen Daniels told the court that the investigation was ongoing, and that additional charges may be added, depending on the autopsy report.

 

It is alleged that Alban was strangled in a hotel room at a luxury Camps Bay hotel on 29 July.

 

Defence lawyer William Booth said he had not been able to discuss the case fully with Novella, as consultations at Pollsmoor Prison were not allowed after hours or during weekends.

 

He said he hoped to have more information when Novello appeared again on 7 August, and that it might be possible on that day to schedule a bail application.

 

He told the court: "I need proper instructions from my client about what happened on the night in question."

 

ANA

File photo: Gallo Images