State to appeal Griekwastad teen's bail

2012-10-04 07:27

The Steenkamp farm in Naauwhoek, Northern Cape. (Emile Hendricks, Volksblad)

Johannesburg - An application by the State for leave to appeal the bail granted to a teenager accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm will be heard on Thursday.

The 16-year-old boy appeared briefly in the Griekwastad Magistrate's Court on Monday.

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.

National Prosecuting Authority Northern Cape spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the trial was set down to start on March 11.

The teenager was arrested for the murder of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, who were shot on their family farm Naauwhoek on April 6.

- SAPA