Long charge list for Umtata man

2003-09-09 19:56

Umtata - A 20 year-old man appeared in the Umtata District Court on Tuesday on three charges of murder, three counts of attempted murder, four of armed robbery and one of kidnapping.

Sicelo Mareke applied for bail on a charge of kidnapping an Umtata couple, Mfusi Tshico and his wife Noxolo Tshico, from their home in August last year. Various electrical goods were stolen and the couple were loaded into their boot and driven away.

Tshico was then shot and killed in front of his wife at Mayden Farm outside Umtata.

Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Xolile Mdepa of the Umtata serious and violent crimes urged the court not to grant Mareke bail as the murder weapon had not yet been recovered.

Mdepa said if Mareke were granted bail, he might retrieve the firearm and eliminate potential state witnesses.

Police also feared for Mareke's safety if he were released into the community he has been terrorising.

Magistrate D Mbonjeni said he could not grant Mareke bail as there was another case against him in which bail had been denied.

In June 2001 Mareke walked free after being found guilty of attempted murder and armed robbery, when his 10 year jail term was suspended for five years.

- SAPA