Two men in court for murder, robbery

Published Aug 4, 2015

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Johannesburg - Two men have appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder, kidnapping, theft and robbery, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Tuesday.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said the two men Jean Pierre Haggard, 24, and Riaan Marais, 27, appeared on Monday and were remanded in police custody.

“It is alleged that Pradeep Mahabeer of Marburg in Port Shepstone had gone missing from home on 2 July this year.”

Naicker said Mahabeer’s white VW Golf was also missing from his home.

“Port Shepstone detectives were also investigating the thefts of two flat screen TV sets from a house in Umtentweni in late June. Riaan Marais was taken in for questioning and the investigation of a theft case took a major turn, leading investigators to another suspect and the missing man’s VW Golf in Gauteng,” Naicker said.

Port Shepstone police linked up with the Thembisa SAPS who arrested Haggard in Kempton Park and recovered the allegedly stolen VW Golf on Wednesday, 29 July.

Marais was arrested on 31 July and both accused were charged with man-stealing (kidnapping) and detained until their court appearance.

Marais led detectives to a secluded site in the bushes close to the Umkomaas river where skeletal remains were recovered and taken to the Port Shepstone State mortuary.

Tissue samples were obtained for forensic analysis in order to positively identify the deceased, Naicker added.

ANA

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