Ederies Smith and Nazmie Lekay face justice: Bail hearing in sisters' murder case
Sisters Zainab Jacobs and Gouwah Smith Newman were gunned down by their brother yesterday.
Image: Supplied.
The Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court was packed on Friday as Ederies Smith and his co-accused Nazmie Lekay appeared in connection with the murders of Smith’s sisters, Zainab Smith Jacobs and Gouwah Smith Newman, who were shot and killed outside a school in Portlands on 6 November 2025.
The State formally closed its arguments in Lekay’s bail application, maintaining firm opposition to his release.
According to the prosecution, the State intends to prove that Lekay acted as an accomplice, with the pair operating in common purpose when Smith allegedly opened fire on his sisters while they were waiting for Smith’s children to be dismissed from school.
The shootings are believed to have been triggered by a recent children’s court decision granting custody of the children to Zainab following abuse allegations.
Lekay faces two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
The prosecutor argued that Lekay was present at the scene in the white Polo and fled the scene with Smith and the children, driving them to Smith’s residence after the shooting. Although Lekay admitted Smith got into his car, his claim that he could not move because he was blocked in by traffic “has no supporting evidence,” the State said.
The court also heard that Lekay had allegedly been asked to clear video footage of the incident, a matter still under investigation.
The State also highlighted inconsistencies in Lekay’s account regarding the vehicle itself.
He initially claimed that Smith did not know the car because it belonged to his aunt, yet later stated that he would be dropping the car off at an unknown client, a contradiction the prosecution argued further undermined his credibility.
Prosecutors also alleged that Smith handed the firearm to someone after the murders and that Lekay attempted to hide it in the back of the Polo. The weapon has not been recovered.
The State said Lekay had actively associated himself with Smith during the commission of the crimes and pointed to contradictions in his testimony.
“The accused said he did not see a firearm in Mr Smith’s possession, yet he told the investigating officer he had seen a firearm,” the prosecutor explained. She added that despite Lekay’s claim that he cooperated, he only did so when confronted with evidence.
The State argued that releasing Lekay would not be in the interests of justice, given the severity of the charges and the trauma inflicted on the community. An innocent man and a learner leaving the school were also injured in the attack.
The prosecutor said the shooting had “induced a sense of shock” in the neighbourhood and releasing the applicant would jeopardise public trust in the justice system.
“The applicant placed no exceptional circumstances on record and should not be released on bail,” she concluded.
The outcome of the judgment in Lekay’s bail application was postponed to Tuesday, 9 December, allowing Smith time to also appoint legal representation.