Durban - Shootings in Wentworth were highlighted again in court on Monday when an attempted murder accused appeared for a shooting in Alabama Road early on Sunday.
Durban magistrate, Mahomed Motala, said he was very reluctant to grant attempted murder accused, Kyle Hitler, bail considering he also faced a separate murder charge.
“The area (Wentworth) is riddled with shooting crimes. The court has heard petitions from the community and churches on this issue with the general outcry in the Austerville and Chesterville areas,” he said.
However, Motala said the State did not oppose bail, which was a “big plus”, and Hitler volunteering to leave the area, led to him granting the accused R5 000 bail with conditions.
Prosecutor Calvin Govender said the police were called out to a shooting at 1.45am on Sunday and arrived to find bullet cartridges near a white Golf.
He said three people were shot and taken to hospital.
The Daily News reported on Monday that Trenton Lochenberg and his friends, Rodelle Sewell and Tiara Leiah, were shot while seated in Lochenberg’s Golf in Alabama Road.
Lochenberg was shot in the stomach, while Sewell and Leiah were shot in the knees.
Govender told the court a witness had come forward saying he was in the vicinity with some friends, heard gunshots and saw Lochenberg lying on his car bonnet, shot.
“He saw (Hitler) and two others walking away from the scene, still shooting and saying I’ll finish you’.
“The witness named the accused and knows him well,” said Govender.
Hitler’s attorney read out his affidavit in support of bail and said Hitler had no previous convictions but had a pending case in the Durban Regional Court, with four others, on a murder charge.
The court also heard that Hitler was recently employed at Engen Refinery as a mechanical fitter, was the sole breadwinner and was married with two minor children.
He was arrested at his Wentworth home on Sunday and said police did not find any guns or weapons, and that he intended pleading not guilty.
Hitler denied owning a gun.
“You have a good job and a family to support. Bail is granted with strict conditions which can be reviewed in due course,” Motala said.
Hitler is not to interfere with or make contact with any of the State witnesses; he is not to enter the Wentworth, Austerville, Bluff or Merebank areas except to attend work; is to surrender his passport; and to inform the investigating officer within 24 hours should he move from his new address in the Durban area.
Daily News