Man accused of killing community CPF members denied bail

The Heidelberg Magistrates Court denied Jaen-Lee Pyne (30) from Heidelberg bail. He is facing a charge of premeditated murder of Heidelberg Community Police Forrum (CPF) member Etienne Du Preez and attempted murder of Flip Minnaar who is also a Heidelberg CPF member.

On 03 July 2024 when the complainant and the deceased were leaving a restaurant in Heidelberg, Pyne who was riding a motorbike approached them and began to shoot both the complainant and the deceased on their head and thereafter fled the scene on a motorbike. After the incident, both the complainant and the deceased were taken to the hospital where the deceased succumbed to his injuries.

Eight days later, Pyne handed himself over to the Heidelberg Police Station. In court, through his legal representative, Pyne asked to be released on bail because he has a family that depends on him and has a business to run. However, state prosecutor Kuthelani Peter Mndanganeni opposed the bail application saying that Pyne having a family, dependents and a business is normal circumstances.

He added that the accused has a pending case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm which is like the offence that he has committed in the matter. Moreover, he said, the court should take into consideration the seriousness of the offence and that if he is granted bail, he will evade his trial.

During bail judgment, Magistrate Gerhard Strydom agreed with the state that having a family, dependents and a business does not amount to exceptional circumstances. Moreover, he said, the accused failed to convince the court that there were substantial and compelling circumstances to be released on bail, therefore bail was denied.

The matter has been remanded to 5 September 2024 for further investigations.