Cape Town - The 34-year-old man charged with the murder of 65-year-old Ingrid Koch who was attacked alongside her husband, Frans, 69, while visiting their son at a farm in Moorreesburg earlier this month will not be applying for bail.
Duran Constable, 34, made an appearance at the Moorreesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where is facing charges of murder and attempted murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed Constable had undergone surgery and was only able to make his first court appearance this week due to his recovery.
Eric Ntabazalila of the NPA explained the suspect will not be applying for bail.
“Duran Constable, 34, made his first appearance in person at the Moorreesburg Magistrate’s Court today.
“The accused, who is charged with the murder of Ingrid Koch, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“He did not make his first appearance as he was referred to Paarl Hospital for an operation and his case remanded until April 11, 2022.
“He did not make his second appearance on Monday as he was recuperating at the hospital section of Malmesbury Prison and his matter rolled over to today.
“He made his first in person appearance today and his case was postponed until May 19 for further investigation. He is not applying for bail,” Ntabazalila said.
The murder of Koch sent shock waves in the farming community after they were attacked while visiting Klipheuwel farm in Hopefield Road, Moorreesburg.
Koch did not survive the attack while her husband was stabbed and wounded.
Andricus van der Westhuizen, MPP, DA Western Cape spokesperson on agriculture, said the murder had brought attention on the serious incidents involving farm attacks.
“Across the country, rural communities are under siege due to heinous acts of violence, yet, Police Minister Bheki Cele has not shown any sign of remorse for the plight of farmers and farmworkers as he has failed to properly implement the rural safety plan.
“Rural communities are at great risk of crime due to their isolation from police stations. This requires a greater need for special police resources to combat farm attacks and killings, as well as the high incidents of other criminal activities that negatively affect farming.
“We urge the SAPS to conduct a thorough investigation and we call on the legal system to deal effectively and speedily with this case.
“I will, furthermore, engage with the Department of Community Safety on the steps it is taking to avail resources and assist SAPS to strengthen rural safety.
“We will be putting in questions to the Minister of Agriculture to understand the extent of safety concerns and attacks on the farming community – both farmers and farmworkers – and how these are impacting our rural areas,” Van der Westhuizen said.
Weekend Argus