Court denies bail to man accused of attempting to murder Micha Renge
Micha Renge
Image: Supplied
The man accused of attempting to kill 21-year-old Micha Renge has been denied bail after the court found that his release would place her life at risk.
20-year-old Abubakhar Ceasar appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates' Court on Thursday, where the magistrate delivered a detailed and uncompromising ruling, outlining why he should remain behind bars.
In a blow-by-blow account, the court left no stone unturned, scrutinising both the events of the alleged attack and Ceasar’s conduct following his arrest.
“I fear for the life of the complainant,” the magistrate stated, adding that even when considering possible bail conditions, the court could not justify his release.
The court heard that Ceasar had allegedly threatened to kill Renge during the ordeal, a factor the magistrate said could not be ignored.
“You promised to kill her, so the court believes you will put the life of the complainant in danger,” she said.
The magistrate further found that Ceasar had violated principles of the criminal justice system, highlighting that he had provided false information after his arrest. It emerged that while in police holding cells, he allegedly misrepresented himself by giving the name “Bruce-Lee”.
“A person who shares false information, our case law says, is a person who is untrustworthy,” the magistrate said.
Ceasar’s conduct in court also counted against him. While he initially began to address the court, he later chose to remain silent after being reminded of his right not to incriminate himself.
“The court gave you a chance to come forward and take it into your confidence to explain what happened that day. You started, but then declined to comment further. The court is left without understanding your version,” the magistrate said.
While acknowledging that Ceasar is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record, the magistrate said this was outweighed by the seriousness and nature of the allegations.
“I cannot say this was constant victimisation. However, faced with the facts before this court, it can be said that the applicant wanted to put the life of the victim in danger.”
She questioned whether any set of bail conditions could ensure Renge’s safety.
“Can we safely say that the life of the victim will be safe should the accused be released on bail after what happened that day?”
The charges stem from a violent incident Renge said unfolded in the early hours of 22 December 2025, shortly after she attempted to end her relationship with Ceasar.
According to Renge, the confrontation followed her discovery that he was allegedly using drugs, something she had previously raised with him.
She claims that after leaving a party near Mnandi Beach, the situation escalated when she told him the relationship was over.
Renge alleged she was assaulted and dragged towards a secluded area near the beach and a canal, where the attack continued for several hours. She previously told the Weekend Argus that she was repeatedly strangled and lost consciousness multiple times during the ordeal.
She further alleged that the accused forced her to clean herself in the canal between assaults and questioned whether she would report him.
As daylight approached, Renge said she was taken to the accused’s home, where family members were present, but she was too fearful to raise the alarm.
She later managed to disclose the incident to his sister and mother before returning home only for the accused to allegedly follow her there and assault her again.
Renge eventually managed to alert her employer and signal to a relative for help before losing consciousness. A case was subsequently opened with police, leading to Ceasar’s arrest the following day.
In delivering judgment, the magistrate interrogated both the alleged motive and the manner in which the offence was committed, describing the reasoning behind the attack as “flimsy”.
“That reason was drugs,” she said, noting there was nothing unreasonable about Renge confronting the accused.
“There was nothing wrong with what the victim said to you. A caring partner would ask you not to be involved in drugs or gangs. I cannot see why this happened.”
The magistrate went further, describing the alleged sequence of events as deeply concerning.
“I believe you stood over her thinking she was dead. She regained consciousness, and you strangled her again. She regained consciousness again, and you asked her if she would tell anyone.”
The court also highlighted what it described as deliberate isolation of the complainant during the alleged attack.
“You isolated her from the public, took her to a desolate area, so that she finds herself helpless with little hope of surviving.”
She added that the alleged incident did not end there, pointing to a second attack at Renge’s home.
“You then had the audacity to go to her place of safety and assault her again. That in itself could constitute a second attempted murder charge, alternatively assault, as it occurred at a different location.”
Further concerns were raised about Ceasar’s actions at the time of his arrest, where he was reportedly found hiding in a roof.
“In court, you stated you gave a false name because you wanted to get away with it,” the magistrate said.
Medical evidence, including a J88 report submitted to the court, was also taken into account in assessing the severity of the alleged assault.
“For this, I will not shy away from the truth, I fear for the life of the victim,” the magistrate concluded. “Bail is denied.”
Moments after proceedings concluded, Ceasar’s mother, Lena Richards, stopped members of the media outside court, distancing herself from any allegations of intimidation towards the complainant.
“I just want to say that I am not here to push her down. In fact, we always supported her. She is a mother, I am a mother, and I won’t deny anything that happened,” Richards said.
“Yes, my child did wrong and he will have to pay for his wrongs. I am not a mommy that will cover up for her child when I know he is wrong, but please don’t add on lies. That is all I am asking.”
Ceasar will remain in custody. The matter is expected to return to the Mitchells Plain Magistrates' Court on 31 March 2026.