Teen girls out on bail

2003-08-01 19:12

Johannesburg - Two teenage girls accused of murdering a third girl in a dispute over clothing, were granted bail in the Johannesburg magistrate's court on Friday.

The two accused from an informal settlement in Natalspruit were arrested on July 11 and charged with stabbing a girl to death on July 9 after confronting her about rumours that they had taken and worn her clothing.

One of the accused, a 14-year-old primary school pupil and mother of a baby, was granted R1 000 bail after her mother, a single parent and domestic worker, assured the court she would "be able to control her".

Her co-accused, a 16-year-old grade eight pupil, was also granted bail of R1nbsp;000.

The girls' legal representative urged the court to release the two on bail to enable them to "get back into the classroom".

The accused would plead not guilty to the murder charge when the matter went to trial, the legal representative told the court. The 16-year-old would plead self-defence and the 14-year-old would say she was "not involved in the fight".

The case was postponed to September 4 for further investigation.

- SAPA