A prison warder who is accused of murdering his wife in cold blood and tried to commit suicide has been granted R5 000 bail. Correctional officer Thuso Phora (32) stationed at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre allegedly killed his wife on 1 January after an argument over sex. 

DIED FOR SEX

The court heard that on 1 January 2023, Phora and his wife Botshelo Phora (31), a police graduate, were arguing after she rejected his advances to have sexual intercourse with her. During the argument, Phora assaulted his wife on the head with an unknown object, proceeded to strangle her with an extension cord and fled the scene.

EXPOSED BY FAMILY 

Its reported that Phora's mother called a family friend asking them to clean the couple's room the next day on 2 January. On arrival, the family friend saw blood stains on the bed, and the backroom door was slightly open. They called Phora's mother and when the mother and brother arrived at the scene, they locked the house and went to report the matter to the police." The National Prosecuting Authority's Lumka Mahanjana said Phora was arrested a day after the incident. She said Phora was found in hospital where he had been admitted after attempting to commit suicide by drinking poison. 

NPA NOT HAPPY WITH BAIL 

Mahanjana says during the bail application, the state asked the court not to release the accused on bail, because he is likely to evade trial due to the seriousness of his offence. "Moreover, the accused is likely to commit suicide since he had already attempted. Furthermore, his release on bail may incite public violence.  However, in his affidavit, Phora told the court that he will not evade his trial, therefore asked to be released on bail, because he must take care of his four-year-old daughter who is sick." Mahanjana added.

During the ruling, the magistrate said that no evidence was given that the accused will evade his trial and that he will commit another crime while released on bail, therefore bail was granted. Bail was set at R5 000 and on the condition that he should not have contact with his minor child unless the family court has conducted a thorough investigation and believes that the accused can have contact with the child. The matter was postponed to 05 May 2023 for further investigations. Senior state prosecutor Anne-Marie Bendeman said she was not pleased with the bail judgement. "We did everything we could, but he was still granted bail. The prosecution is not happy."