Griekwastad murders: Trial date set
2012-10-01 19:10
Bloemfontein - The murder trial of a 16-year-old boy accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their Griekwastad farm will start in March.
The youth appeared briefly in the Griekwastad Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
National Prosecuting Authority Northern Cape spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the trial was set down to start on 11 March.
An application by the State for leave to appeal the bail granted to the boy in the magistrate’s court will be heard on Thursday.
Prosecutor JJ Cloete contended that the magistrate erred in finding that the boy was not dangerous to those around him.
In his motion of notice, Cloete said that during his bail application, the boy gave no indication whether he was innocent, and that he lied to the police.
The State has contended that it has a strong case against him.
Cloete submitted that the magistrate had under-emphasised the violence contained in the charges and had overemphasised the boy's interests as a child.
- SAPA
