Kazi murder accused denied bail
2013-02-26 14:35
Video
2013-01-28 15:13
The case against Roedolf Viviers, accused of beating a Muslim man to death, was postponed to March 4, 2012 in the South Gauteng Hight Court. Watch.WATCH
-
Johannesburg
Johannesburg: The elusive metropolis is a pioneering effort to insert South Africa's largest city...
Now R236.00
buy now
Johannesburg - The Krugersdorp Regional Court denied bail to
murder accused Roedolf Viviers on Tuesday.
"The applicant failed dismally to prove to this court
that it would be in the interest of justice to release him on bail. Bail is
therefore denied," said magistrate Reginald Dama.
Viviers and another man, Zayne van Tonder, 33, allegedly
insulted Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi and his friend Anser Mahmood about their beards
at a Chicken Licken outlet in Magaliesburg on 6 August 2012.
An argument and a fight ensued. Kazi was severely beaten and
died in hospital.
Charges against Van Tonder were later dropped and he was
released.
Kazi's brothers Mohammed Nuaman, 22, and Mohammed Farhan,
18, shouted "Praise Allah" when Dama made his ruling.
Kazi's widow Sajidah sobbed and hugged friends and relatives
who packed the public gallery.
Viviers, who was wearing glasses, a blue shirt and khaki
pants calmly listened to Dama. He looked at his feet when he was led to the
police cells.
He will appear in the South Gauteng High Court on 4 March,
when a trial date is to be set.
No public outcry
Earlier, Viviers's lawyer Jack Gerber said his client should
be released on bail as there is no legitimate public outcry against his release.
"An expression of anger by family and friends does not
equal a public outcry," he said.
"The alleged incident happened in Magaliesberg, and not
in Lenasia, where most family and friends [of the deceased] reside," he
said.
People in the public gallery raised their voices in anger at
Gerber's statement.
Magistrate Reginald Dama ordered them keep quiet.
"I will charge anyone with contempt of court should
there be disturbances in this court.... I am serious about that," he
warned.
Gerber said that although there had been public interest
since Viviers's first appearance in court last year, there had been no outcry.
He said the court proceedings were attended by only a
handful of friends and family.
"With due respect, your Worship, the Muslim religion is
not only limited to Lenasia residents," Gerber submitted.
He said Viviers would lose his income should he continue to
be incarcerated.
- SAPA
