Siblings up for parents' murder
2008-07-23 14:07
Durban - A brother and sister were charged in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for the murder of their parents.
The accused - Hardus Johannes Lotter, 20, his 26-year-old sister Nicolette Lotter and a Phoenix resident, 21-year-old Matthew Moodley - appeared briefly at the packed court on Wednesday for the murders of Durban businessman Johan Lotter, 53, and his wife Magdalene.
Bail was opposed and the case was remanded for seven days until July 31.
Magistrate Corel Language said the Lotter siblings would remain in custody at the Westville police cells while Moodley would be held at the Cator Manor police cells.
Both siblings said they had opted for legal aid.
Court packed
Language said the case was discussed with the Director of Public Prosecutions and it was decided that the matter would go to the Durban High Court within the next ten days.
The court was packed with media, police as well as family.
Lotter and his wife were murdered at their home in Durban's Westville suburb on Saturday.
Lotter was the head of the Bayer/Lanxess chemical plant situated in Merebank's Tomango Road.
At the time, police spokesperson Superintendent Jay Naicker said: "The son thought he saw his sister's car and opened the electronic gate, but then two men in balaclavas confronted him and locked him in the bedroom," said Naicker.
The father was strangled while the mother was stabbed.
- SAPA