Satanic ritual case on hold till January
2011-11-23 14:19
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Johannesburg
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Johannesburg - The trial of six youths accused of setting two girls alight in a suspected satanic ritual was postponed by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
It was postponed to January 17 for further investigation and the results of forensic evidence, public prosecutor Colleen Ryan said.
Lindon Wagner, 21, Robin Harwood, 18, Harvey Isha, 23, Lester Moody, 18, Jeremy King, 18, and a 15-year-old girl briefly appeared during a closed court session.
The trial will be moved to the South Gauteng High Court when the investigations are complete.
Doused with petrol
Kirsty Theologo, 18, died in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital a week after being doused with petrol and set alight on a koppie behind the Linmeyer swimming pool in Julius Street on the night of Friday October 21.
A 14-year-old friend of hers was also burnt, but she survived. She is undergoing skin grafts and scraping to try and minimise the damage done when she was burnt.
The five men will be held at the Johannesburg prison until their next court appearance. The 15-year-old girl has been released into the custody of her parents. She will apply for legal aid.
They are all charged with murder and attempted murder.
On Wednesday, Wagner and Harwood withdrew their request for psychological evaluation.
Bail
Moody and King were denied bail on November 17 because the court could find no reason to justify granting bail to the pair.
On November 21, Harwood, Isha and were also denied bail as they could not produce exceptional circumstances for bail. Wagner did not apply for bail.
During the bail hearing, investigating officer Warrant Officer Joseph Yende testified the two girls were victims of a religious sacrifice.
He said King had told him that Theologo suggested she be sacrificed at a party three weeks before the attack.
After the attack, the two girls walked back to Theologo's house, two kilometres away, for help.
Moody and King handed themselves over to the police and appeared in court for the first time on October 25. Isha was arrested a few days later, as was the girl.
- SAPA
