Israeli a multiple murderer?

2001-04-10 18:28

Johannesburg - An Israeli national appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for the alleged murder of the husband of a local woman who was a friend of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Lior Saad, who owns a house in Beersheva in Israel, was arrested at the Maputo border post on Sunday.

Prosecutor Leana Fick told the court that besides the murder of Shai Avissar, husband of Hazel Crane, more than a year ago, police were investigating another four murder and 17 attempted murder cases against Saad.

Defence attorney Lawley Shein told the court that the manner in which Saad was taken to the Mozambican border, where he was arrested by the South African police without extradition hearings, was being investigated.

A letter from a Mozambican police chief was handed in by the state declaring that his visa had expired a month previously.

The defence placed on record that Saad entered Mozambique via Lisbon in Portugal, and not from South Africa.

He remains in custody in the Brixton cells until his next appearance on May 3 for the murder of Avissar and an unrelated R500 000 fraud charge.

The Israeli embassy has been contacted by the defence and officials will visit Saad later in the week.

The defence indicated a decision would be taken later on whether to apply for bail.

Magistrate Helene Engelbrecht ordered Saad to submit to the taking of a blood sample for DNA testing. - Sapa

- SAPA