Court denies bail to Sinoville murder-accused
Leon Coetzee (45) has been denied bail in the Pretoria Magistrate Court.
Coetzee appeared in court on Friday facing charges of murder.
He is accused of killing Themba Thebethe at a complex in Sinoville.
"It is alleged that Thabethe and Coetzee stayed in the same complex and belonged to a WhatsApp group that was created for all residents of the complex. However, a second WhatsApp group was created with white residents only. It is alleged a message was sent in the whites-only WhatsApp group, referring to black residents as pigs and that Thabethe was corrupt," says the NPA’s Lumka Mahanjana.
"The message leaked and came to Thabethe’s attention. On 26 April 2021, Thabethe who was from work stood at the gate of the accused and confronted his wife about the message. It is alleged that Coetzee came out of the house with the knife and stabbed Thabethe.
Thabethe later died in hospital.
The matter will be back in court on July 20.
Breaking News: Bail is denied. #Coetzee remains in custody #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/JrVG9NcxY9
— Patricia Visagie (@Patrweezy) May 7, 2021
Prosecutor: On #Coetzee’s knee. He is apparently healing from a knee operation and can’t run. He is currently on crutches.
— Patricia Visagie (@Patrweezy) May 7, 2021
It’s alleged that # Coetzee chased the deceased and stabbed him again. The defence say this can’t be true. The accused can’t run with that knee #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Re31DsCzG5
