Robbers looked for 'open door'
2003-10-15 09:47
Bellville - Two of the men accused of shooting and killing the Rev Pietie Victor, 70, of Durbanville Hills last month, drove around that day looking for a house with an "open door" to rob.
This emerged in a bail application by Rashied Naidoo, 26, of Athlone and Riedewaan Cornelius, 26, of Kalksteenfontein.
André Esau, 31, told the magistrate's court he would not be applying for bail and his case was postponed to October 23 for a possible plea bargain.
The three are charged with armed robbery, murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as conspiracy to commit armed robbery on September 19 this year.
Identified during identity parade
Victor, well known for his work among destitute people, was shot dead when he came to his neighbour's rescue after she had been tied down and robbed of, among other things, her jewellery.
Five weeks before he was arrested in connection with Victor's death, Naidoo was acquitted on a technicality after being charged with the murder of American model Joe Skarbowski (aka Joe Colby).
Skarbowski was murdered in Sea Point on April 16 last year. Naidoo was incarcerated for about 18 months in connection with this case.
Naidoo and Esau were arrested on September 19 and Cornelius on September 24.
Stefan Venter, for the State, told the court Esau had made a statement in which he said he knew Naidoo and Cornelius and that they wanted to rob a house on September 19. He said Naidoo was the one who shot Victor.
Venter said investigating officer Paul Hendrikse would testify that Naidoo was positively identified during an identity parade and his fingerprints had been found in Cornelius's car.
Naidoo, father of a 10-month-old baby, denied he was involved in the murder or that he was a member of a gang. He said he would enter a plea of not guilty.
The case was postponed until October 21 when Cornelius is due to testify.