Suspects appear for attempted hit in Durban court

A man, accused of hiring hitmen to kill his business partner to cash in on a R34 million life insurance policy, appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s court on Thursday afternoon.

Standing alongside 34-year-old Dain Robert Neveling in the dock were the two men — Kristian Jorgensen and Hendrik Nunez — accused of attempting to help him finish off his business partner.

The three men each face two charges of conspiracy to commit murder, while Neveling also faces additional charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The case against the three was adjourned to Tuesday for bail consideration and Magistrate Vanitha Armu ordered that the men be held in the cells at the Durban North police station.

Prosecutor Siyabonga Majola said that the prosecution wanted more time to gather evidence for a bail hearing and to determine whether bail should be opposed.

“There is a likelihood he will interfere with the complainant,” said Majola.

The three are alleged to have attempted to arrange the killing of Grant David Webb first in July and again on Monday.

Advocate Paul Jorgensen, for Nunez and Jorgensen (no relation), said both his clients had been assaulted upon their arrest and had sustained injuries. He asked that provision be made to ensure that his clients received medical attention.

Lawyer Jacques Botha asked that his client be given access to sugary substances as he suffers from type 1 diabetes. He also pointed to injuries that his client had sustained upon his arrest. All three accused looked dishevelled and Nunez and Jorgensen were holding their midriffs.

On Wednesday, Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the businessman allegedly hired a man to assist him in finding a hitman who would murder his business partner.

“The Hawks received the information and involved crime intelligence. An undercover cop approached the (middle) man and presented himself as the man for the job and a deal was concluded. The undercover cop was provided with a vehicle, police blue light and a police communication radio,” Mulaudzi said.

Investigators then staged the murder of the targeted man, and within 30 minutes, an amount of R10,000 was paid for the faked hit.

The suspect was then arrested. He led the Hawks to the home of his boss, the businessman.

According to Mulaudzi, this was not the first time the businessman had allegedly tried to have his business partner killed.

The target was followed by two men from a conference in Drummond in July this year to his residence where he was shot several times in what appeared to be a failed hijacking.

“The victim survived the attack and as if that was not enough, three assailants were sent to kill the victim’s father-in-law, but the man managed to wrestle the firearm from his attackers until they fled,” he added.