Durban - The State intends to argue that the death of Durban accountant Hoosen Dhoda, who was killed in an alleged botched business robbery, was “premeditated murder” because of the planning and execution of the robbery.
This emerged in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday when four men appeared in connection with the case.
Dhoda, a senior accountant, was killed by robbers who entered the Royal Travel agency’s premises in Problem Mkhize (Cowey) Road on August 1.
Witnesses said Dhoda was upstairs when three well-dressed men stormed the premises and accosted two women employees downstairs. When he heard their screams, he came running.
A confrontation ensued and he was shot in the chest. Dhoda was shot four times and the incident was captured on CCTV.
The four men - Sipho Golden Mbele, Bomakwakhe Magubane, Sandile Patrick Dlamini and Ayanda Dlamini - have only been charged with murder and not robbery, as police are still investigating.
They were arrested just eight days after the incident, after police worked with a private security company.
The private security firm had been hired by the travel agency to find the culprits.
State prosecutor Calvin Govender said the four men needed to apply for bail, but the State was opposed to it.
The State had said at an earlier appearance that it would ask for life sentences if the men were convicted.
On Monday the court heard that Sandile Dlamini wanted the bail hearing to be heard as quickly as possible as he was a metro police officer.
The case was adjourned to August 26 for the bail application.
The Mercury