Cape Town -
Two men accused of raping and robbing a Norwegian tourist at gunpoint on Signal Hill no longer want to plead guilty.
Prosecutor Phindile Sityata told the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday that Wafiek Buffkins and Lincoln Bester, both of Bonteheuwel, changed their minds after a Legal Aid lawyer took their case.
DNA tests results were still outstanding.
The men allegedly accosted the tourist and a man she was with at about 1am on April 6. Armed with firearms, they allegedly demanded their cellphones, money and jewellery. They then allegedly took turns raping the woman and threatened to kill her friend if she resisted. The couple, whose names are being withheld, were driven to an unknown location where the woman was raped again.
Shamiel Alexander of Athlone and Shafiek Samsodien, to whom the cellphones were allegedly sold, were arrested three months after the attack.
They alleged that Buffkins and Bester were the perpetrators. They were in turn arrested a week later.
The four face seven counts including rape, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Alexander and Samsodien are on bail of R500 each.
Buffkins and Bester have abandoned their bail applications.
They are due back in court on December 5.
Cape Argus