Wynberg courthouse hit: Court finds no grounds for bail release of accused
Shireen Matthews, 35, believed to be the mastermind.
Image: Supplied
Two women accused of planning the brazen courthouse hit in Wynberg were back in the dock on Wednesday, but the State is not buying their pleas to be released on bail.
Shireen Matthews, 35, believed to be the mastermind, along with alleged gun smuggler Wanay Farao, 22, are both applying for bail after being charged with premeditated murder linked to the April 8 killing of a former taxi owner inside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.
The pair are among five accused in the case, but three of the suspects - Abubaker Adams, Brian Booysen, and Vuyisani Zengethwa, have opted to stay behind bars.
During bail arguments on Wednesday, Farao denied knowing anything about the courthouse killing.
Her lawyer told the court that on the day of the shooting, she was at a hotel in Diep River with Booysen, her boyfriend and co-accused, who had planned a romantic getaway.
She claimed she went to court that day solely to accompany him in collecting bail money.
However, court documents reveal that both Farao and Booysen were on the run before they were eventually arrested.
Farao argued that she should get bail because she suffers from chronic asthma, is the breadwinner at home, and the overcrowded prison cells are exacerbating her medical condition.
State prosecutor, Christiaan de Jongh, said Matthews’s child is being looked after by her mother so using her child as a reason to be released didn’t count.
Brian Booysen and Wanay Farao have been implicated in the murder.
Image: Supplied
He also argued that it wasn’t exceptional that her family was struggling while she’s locked up.
De Jongh said: “While Farao’s medical condition may not be favourable, it is not exceptional.”
The court heard that both women gave “fake” addresses to police, making it difficult to find them.
The State argues Matthews would still be on the run today if it wasn’t for a tip-off that led police to her hideout in Goodwood.
Documents also revealed that Matthews faces a long list of other charges dating back to 2017, and that releasing her on bail would endanger the public, disrupt order, and lead to her evading trial.
Farao told the court she can afford bail of R2,000, and Matthews said she could pay R5,000 but the state said “no exceptional circumstances” were proven.
The magistrate will make a ruling on July 17.
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