Four in court for 'satanic' murder

Published Oct 19, 2006

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By Karen Breytenbach

Four men accused of the occult-style killing of a Paarl church custodian will go on trial on November 20 in the Cape High Court.

Their trial is likely to start in September 2007. In the meantime, the men will remain in custody at Allandale Prison in Paarl.

The Paarl magistrate's court referred the case to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to determine a trial date.

Evans Marani, 29, a Kenyan law graduate who is separated from his Paarl-based wife, and Selwyn Adonis, 22, an unemployed local handyman, were arrested in November 2005 and charged with the murder of Charles Jacobs, 54.

Anil Pharoah, 25, and Edwil Gerber, 22, both from Paarl, were arrested in May after interrogation by the police. Forensic evidence emerged possibly linking them to the crime scene.

All four suspects were denied bail, either for posing a risk to society or for being flight risks.

Jacobs worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Paarl East all his life and took care of his aged mother.

Marani worked with him at the church and was a family friend. Jacobs later expelled Marani from the church for failing to prove that he was a missionary.

Jacobs was found murdered in a room at the back of the church a year ago. The word "Satun" was written on the floor, apparently in his blood. A cupboard had been broken into and two DVD players were stolen.

Jacobs was found hanging, with a deep wound to his side and cuts around his forehead, like the injuries inflicted on Jesus during his crucifixion.

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