Northern Cape - The Griquatown Children's Court on Monday granted bail to a 16-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with the murders of a local farming family.
Magistrate Oswald Mazwi said after considering all relevant evidence placed before the court, it would be in the interest of justice for the child to be released on bail.
He said the child was not a flight risk, was receiving schooling and would not interfere with witnesses.
He said it appeared that the child would not be a threat to any other person.
However, he said the State had a prima facie case against him, but continued detention of the child pending the trial was not warranted.
The teenager was arrested for the murder of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, who were shot on their family farm Naauwhoek on April 6.
In the last court appearance, Willem Coetzee, for the boy, told the court the State had no direct evidence to link the boy to the Griekwastad farm murder. - Sapa
* Comments have been closed on this story to protect the identity of the minor in the case.