The Roodepoort Magistrates court denied bail to six men accused of hijacking and murdering Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs. Ndumiso Ndura Moswane (26), Fernando Nando Sive (25), Nhlakanipho Dlamini (21), Franky Xaba (25), Maredi Mphahlele(36) and Thembinkosi Hlomikhawu (31)are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice.

INTEREST OF JUSTICE

Delivering her verdict Magistrate Delise Smith said it would not be in the interest of justice to grant the suspects bail because they supplied false information to the court during their bail application. "On April 8, the accused were aware that the car belonged Fleurs and it was hijacked. However, they went ahead to hide the vehicle and strip it of its parts concealing evidence helpful evidence from the police." Smith added that accused number 1 lied about where he lives. Accused number 2 lied about having never travelled to Mozambique since his arrival in South Africa as an infant. Accused number 3 lied about being registered as a student for the 2024 academic year at Gauteng City College and accused number 5 lied about not having any other additional conviction or pending case.

FLIGHT RISK

Smith said upon hearing that the police had launched a manhunt for them, the suspects ran away. "The release of the suspects on bail will undermine and jeopardise public confidence in the criminal justice system," said Smith. Luke was killed during an alleged hijacking at a petrol station in Roodepoort, west of Joburg, on Wednesday, 3 April and Gauteng police arrested the six suspects on Wednesday, 10 April.