DOZENS of women wearing T-shirts proclaiming “Justice for Franziska” and “Enough is enough” protested outside court on Tuesday before the bail application of four men charged with murdering 16-year-old Franziska Blochliger in Tokai Forest‚ Cape Town.
Among the women from the communities of Westlake and Tokai was one who held a banner saying “No Franziska‚ no bail”.
Shortly before the hearing began at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court‚ the crowd in the corridors had swollen to about 100.
Three of the men are being held on charges on murder‚ rape and robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with Franziska’s death on March 7. The fourth was arrested for possession of stolen property – an iPhone and jewellery stolen from Franziska – but the state said it could not exclude any of the accused from the more serious charges.
The suspects‚ aged between 22 and 27‚ cannot be named until they have pleaded to the rape charges. Since their arrest on March 8‚ they have been held in Pollsmoor Prison‚ less than a kilometre from where Franziska was killed.
Franziska‚ 16‚ from Muizenberg‚ was jogging in Tokai forest when she was killed.
Her phone‚ watch‚ headset and diamond ring were among items stolen from her. The four accused were arrested in Westlake when the stolen iPhone was activated in the area‚ allegedly when a man negotiating to buy it asked for proof that it was working.
When police arrived‚ community members pointed out known criminals they suspected of being involved in trying to sell the cellphone.
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