Slain CT doctor case postponed

CAPE TOWN, 2014/02/07, Brothers, Michael and Sarel van der Walt, and their co-accused, Juan Liedeman (not pictured), appear in the Western Cape High Court in connection with the murder of Stellenbosch professor, Louis Heyns. - Court case of Murdered Stellenbosch academic Louis Heyns, Cape Town High Court. Picture: Adrian de Kock

CAPE TOWN, 2014/02/07, Brothers, Michael and Sarel van der Walt, and their co-accused, Juan Liedeman (not pictured), appear in the Western Cape High Court in connection with the murder of Stellenbosch professor, Louis Heyns. - Court case of Murdered Stellenbosch academic Louis Heyns, Cape Town High Court. Picture: Adrian de Kock

Published May 23, 2014

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Cape Town - Three men accused of involvement in the murder of paediatrician Dr Louis Heyns appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.

Lawyers for Malmesbury business owner Juan Liedeman and brothers Marthinus and Sarel van der Walt told the court the matter was not yet ready for trial.

Liedeman's lawyer William Booth said he had a meeting with prosecutor Samantha Raphels next week to “sort out” his client's position.

At their last appearance, Raphels said a possible plea agreement was on the table for Liedeman but that nothing had been finalised.

Judge Robert Henney granted a postponement for a fifth pre-trial conference on June 13.

Liedeman is out on R20 000 bail. The brothers will remain in custody.

Heyns, a University of Stellenbosch medical professor, went missing last May. His body was found in a shallow grave in Strand the same month.

The brothers face charges of killing and robbing him.

Liedeman faces charges for being found in possession of Heyns's stolen vehicle.

The director of public prosecutions decided to charge him with robbery as an accessory after the fact, and defeating the ends of justice - both schedule six offences.

He was released on bail in June last year, after proving that exceptional circumstances existed to warrant his release.

Liedeman said in a bail application affidavit he had received threats from the Van der Walts before and after his arrest last year.

Sapa

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