Cape Town - The bail application of two men accused of raping and killing a Manenberg girl has stalled for a second time as a defence lawyer failed to show up at court.
The bludgeoned body of Chanelle McCrawl, 10, was discovered on the banks of the Vygieskraal River in October after she failed to return home from school.
Her uncle, Carlo de Kock, and her neighbour, Stanton Mano, were arrested for her rape and murder.
According to a police source, officers believe her uncle raped and murdered her, and then enlisted Mano to help him hide her body in a wheelie bin and dump it at the river.
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Cops said the Grade 4 pupil from Edendale Primary School had extensive head injuries and that a blood trail had been found in her uncle’s backyard home in Audrey Court.
De Kock and Mano appeared for the third time in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in their second attempt for a bail application.
The matter was postponed two weeks ago as Legal Aid lawyer, Rustin Ravat, announced that due to a conflict of interest, he could not represent both accused and would only be defending Mano.
Ravat would not disclose what the conflict was.
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On Wednesday the two men returned to court and appeared before Magistrate Goolam Bawa. However, the Judicare practitioner assigned to defend De Kock was a no-show.
Ravat informed Bawa that despite the acceptance of the case and several calls to her office, the lawyer failed to arrive.
“She accepted the case and Judicare is aware of the court dates. Her office has been called several times but she has failed to pitch. I would like to request a postponement,” Ravat said.
Magistrate Bawa explained that without De Kock’s lawyer, the bail application could not proceed and postponed the matter to 14 December.
After their appearance, Mano looked back at the public gallery and appeared disappointed at the postponement.
He turned to greet his relatives who were the only Manenberg residents who attended proceedings.
At previous appearances, groups of angry aunties from Manenberg including neighbours from Audrey Court filled the courtroom and also picketed outside the court house.