|
'Najwa is a danger to community'
11/07/2007 16:23 - (SA)
Cape Town - The State on Wednesday urged Wynberg Regional Court to refuse bail for slain entertainer Taliep Petersen's widow, Najwa, as well as for one of the three co-accused in the murder, Abdoer Emjedi.
Prosecutor Shireen Riley said she had no wish to downplay Petersen's serious psychiatric conditions, but contended that Petersen's condition required a structured prison environment.
She said there was a strong likelihood that Petersen would attempt suicide at home, if released into the care of her family.
Riley told the court: "In a supervised environment such as prison, there would be less chance of suicide."
She said the court had a duty to protect Petersen, and by allowing her to go home the court would be asking the family to police her and to supervise her medication.
"If she decides not to take her medication, and she relapses as a result, who at home will take responsibility?" she asked.
'A danger to the community'
Riley said Pollsmoor Prison currently had 15 mentally ill patients, and was managing them adequately.
Riley contended that Petersen would be a danger to the community if released on bail.
Earlier, when advocate Lionel Jacobs started his closing argument on behalf of Emjedi, Magistrate Robert Henney said he had serious concerns about where Emjedi would live if released on bail.
Jacobs said Emjedi would live in a family house presently occupied by his brother.
Jacobs added, "If he is not at this family house when the police need him, his bail can be revoked."
'A convenient address'
Evidence during the proceedings was that Emjedi, although married with children, also had a girlfriend, and that police arrested him for the murder at his girlfriend's home.
On Wednesday, Jacobs told the court, "It is not uncommon for a married man to have a girlfriend."
The magistrate responded: "I hope your wife does not hear that."
Henney said it troubled him that if Emjedi was not at home with his wife, he was with his girlfriend, or living with a friend.
Henney added, "He now has a convenient address - his brother's home - because of these bail proceedings."
'Self-confessed liar'
Jacobs said the law did not require a person to only have one address.
Jacobs contended that the State had a weak case against Emjedi, based on three statements made by a "self-confessed liar".
This in itself justified his release on bail, Jacobs said.
Judgment is expected on Thursday.
- SAPA
|
News
