Key Points
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Court says accused failed to prove exceptional circumstances.
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CCTV footage and fingerprints link suspects to the crime.
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NPA says the ruling protects justice and public interest.
The Western Cape High Court has dismissed the bail appeal of Mark Lifman murder suspects Johannes Hendrik Jacobs and Gert Johannes Bezuidenhout.
The duo faces premeditated murder charges following the fatal shooting of alleged underworld figure Mark Lifman on November 3, 2024.
Lifman was gunned down in broad daylight in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall in George. Police arrested the two men shortly after the killing, near De Vlugt, on the route to Uniondale.
Investigators say Bezuidenhout booked multiple firearms through a Cape Town security company just days before the assassination.
He and Jacobs checked into a guesthouse in George on October 31. On the morning of November 3, Lifman was shot at around 11 a.m. CCTV footage showed a getaway hatchback, later found with altered plates, leaving the scene.
State says accused may threaten key witness
During the arrest, officers seized several incriminating items, including 9mm ammunition, wigs, helmets, duct tape, and electronic devices.
The car linked to the murder was abandoned with a broken window, and the number plates were recovered with Bezuidenhout’s fingerprints.
Senior State Prosecutor Evadne Kortje told the court that the Mark Lifman murder suspects knew the identity and location of a crucial state witness.
She warned that if released, the suspects could intimidate witnesses, tamper with evidence, or flee.
Kortje emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that the murder occurred in a public space with firearms, warranting life imprisonment if convicted.
High court finds no compelling reason to overturn ruling
On May 6, the defense appealed the initial bail ruling, arguing that the magistrate had made legal errors.
However, the High Court rejected the appeal, stating the accused had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances that would justify their release.
The court found no basis to overturn the earlier decision, ruling that their continued detention was in the interest of justice and public safety.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the ruling, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that violent criminals face the full extent of the law.
