The man accused of beating a petrol jockey, who died later in hospital, had previously been arrested five times for assault.
|||Cape Town - The man accused of assaulting a petrol jockey, who died later in hospital in Mitchells Plain, had previously been arrested five times for common assault.
On Tuesday, the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court heard that Labeeq Manan, 30, who the State alleges is the man who beat petrol jockey Lawrence Mandipazano on June 4, had previously had four assault cases against him withdrawn.
Another assault case had been struck from the court roll after a warrant of arrest had been erroneously issued for Manan in 2010.
Manan has been in custody since June 5.
On Tuesday, defence advocate Vernon Jantjies
told the court they were waiting for the post-mortem results and that they were not sure when Mandipazano had died and what the cause of death was. “It could be natural causes,” he said.
The defence also raised the fact that Manan had initially been charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm – which was later changed to a murder charge.
He intends pleading not guilty to the murder charge.
The State has opposed bail.
Later, investigating officer Errol Bedford told the court police had not completed an identity parade because the witnesses were too afraid to come forward. “They are still traumatised… if the accused gets bail I’m afraid they might not come to court,” he said.
The bail application continues on Wednesday.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
