Brits - A North West farmer accused of killing a Majakaneng man was denied bail by the Brits Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Magistrate Jethro Mosime said Matthew Benson, 24, failed to convinced the court that it was in the interest of justice to be released on bail.
"The applicant stays with his girlfriend, he has no property of his own. There is a likelihood that he can interfere with investigations or witnesses," the magistrate found. "The applicant failed to prove that it is in the interest of justice to release him on bail. Bail is denied."
Benson is accused of killing Tebogo Ndlovu, as well as the attempted murder of two of his friends.
Ndlovu and his friends allegedly went to the farm in Mooinooi on August 2 to steal scrap metals. Benson spotted them, chased after them and allegedly fired shots at them, hitting Ndlovu.
His friends tried to help him to run away but left him behind because he was too heavy for them to run up to a mountain. According to them, they saw Benson and five other men at the scene where they had left Ndlovu. He has not been seen since that day.
"The body is missing since August 2, to date. Six people, including the applicant were seen at the scene [of crime]. There is a strong possibility that the applicant disposed the body, the police are still searching for the missing person," the magistrate said.
"The applicant supplied false information that he did not fire any shots. Bullet cartridges found at the scene matched the 9mm pistol," the magistrate ruled.
The magistrate asked why Benson concealed the identity of his witness who claimed to have seen Ndlovu.
"Why did the applicant conceal the identity of the person who had information that the missing person was alive and well. He did not tell Lieutenant Colonel [Isaac] Tlhapi... the investigator could have obtained the witness statement from him...The missing person was shot and wounded. I wonder how could he be well."
The case was postponed to November 7.