A 19-year-old man will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, 18 October 2024, in connection with the murder of a Stellenbosch University student.
Story Summary:
- A 19-year-old man will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court following the murder of a first-year student.
- The victim was robbed and stabbed in the neck while riding his bicycle early on Wednesday morning.
- Swift investigations led to the suspect’s arrest, with the court set to formally charge him with murder and robbery.
Stellenbosch man accused of killing student due in court
The first-year BSc student was found fatally wounded by a security guard with a stab wound to the neck on Borcherd Road during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The incident took place at approximately 03:00 on Borcherd Street, Stellenbosch, as the young student was riding his bicycle.
According to police reports, the suspect approached the student, robbing him of personal belongings before stabbing him fatally in the neck.
The victim succumbed to the injury at the scene, casting a dark shadow over the university town.
Shortly after the crime, Stellenbosch SAPS, in collaboration with Crime Intelligence, swiftly arrested the first suspect, a 19-year-old male, within hours of the murder.
The investigation continued, and yesterday, three additional suspects were taken into custody. Two men and a woman were arrested in Cloetesville in connection with the crime.
The 19-year-old suspect, who now faces charges of murder and robbery, will be appearing in court for the first time.
During his initial appearance, the court will lay out the formal charges against him.
The prosecution is likely to request that the suspect remain in custody pending further investigations, given the severity of the crime.
Legal proceedings will determine whether the accused applies for bail, though it is expected that the state will oppose any such request due to the nature of the crime and the potential flight risk.
The victim’s identity has not been publicly released, and further updates on the case are expected as the court proceedings continue.
