3 appear for principal's murder
2008-01-31 07:36
Pretoria - Three Mozambican men accused of murdering a Pretoria nursery school principal appeared in the Pretoria District Court on Wednesday.
Dinis Gentil Nhone, 36, Christovao Fresco Ndima, 19, and a third suspect who claimed he was aged 15, were all arrested in Daveyton by Brooklyn police.
It is alleged that they attacked Pretoria nursery school principal Rinda Abraham's family on Saturday.
When Abraham came running out of her room after she heard shots, one of the robbers grabbed her around the neck and shot her in the heart.
The murder took place in Waterkloof Ridge, the same suburb where Briton Fred Picton-Turbervill was murdered earlier this month.
It is believed that Ndima might be linked to Picton-Turbervill's murder.
The court heard that Nhone and Ndima were linked to Abraham's case by identity kits and that the police would also conduct an identity parade.
They are charged with murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The third accused resided with Ndima.
Two weapons, allegedly linked to the latest murder, were found in Ndima's possession.
He was arrested for being in the unlawful possession of these items. All three accused said they would apply for legal aid.
The State Prosecutor then informed the court that he disputed the third accused's age - he said he was born in December 1996. However, he did not have an identity book.
The case was postponed to February 6 for the identity parade, the tracing of other suspects and the possible adding of other cases, including the one regarding Picton-Turbervill.
Outside court, Pretoria police spokesperson, Captain Prince Mokhabela, confirmed that police would determine if the third accused was indeed only 15-years-old.
He added that two other suspects, Lucky and Cynthia Ntuli, who were arrested with the three, had appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court for the possession of suspected stolen goods.
- SAPA