FOUR men accused in the murder of 16-year-old Franziska Blochliger in Tokai Forest‚ Cape Town‚ will stay behind bars until April 28 after their bail application was postponed on Tuesday.
The state said it was ready to oppose the application but lawyers for the suspects‚ aged between 22 and 27‚ said they wanted the results of DNA tests before proceeding.
Dozens of women wearing T-shirts proclaiming “Justice for Franziska” and “Enough is enough” protested outside court before the hearing. The women were from the communities of Westlake and Tokai‚ and one of them held a banner saying “No Franziska‚ no bail”.
All of the men are being held in connection with the murder and robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm‚ in connection with Franziska’s death on March 7. The DNA tests are intended to determine which of them will also be charged with rape.
The suspects 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 murdered. Her iPhone‚ 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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