Raafiq Abrahams, who confessed last year to killing Sulaiman Brey 11 years ago, says his adolescence was difficult.
|||Cape Town - The man who confessed last year to killing a Wynberg shopkeeper 11 years ago is set to speak to a probation officer before he starts plea bargain proceedings with the State.
Raafiq Abrahams, 25, appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court for the first time on Wednesday after his case was transferred from the lower court.
Sulaiman Brey, 63, was killed inside his Wittebome Superette in Wynberg after a botched robbery on November 13, 2002.
The knifeman fled the scene and was on the run for just over a decade. In December, Abrahams came forward and confessed to Brey’s murder saying he was just 14 at the time.
“I was taken into custody and later made a full confession to a captain from Kirstenhof police. I will, during my trial, disclose full reasons for my actions and intentions for confessing to this offence,” Abrahams said in his bail affidavit which forms part of the court record.
“My family has provided clinical reports to my attorney regarding my psychological assessments, dated 2002.
“I confirm I went through a troubled teenage phase. Full details will be disclosed during my trial.”
Abrahams has now been charged with murder and aggravated robbery.
Abrahams’ lawyer, Milton de la Harpe, told the court on Wednesday that he received copies of the case docket and that he had consulted with his client. Abrahams’s intention was to plead guilty.
De La Harpe said a proposed plea and sentence agreement was discussed with the State and that the document would be supplied to the prosecution within a week.
He said a probation officer’s report was completed and, all that was needed was for his client to consult with the officer.
Magistrate Gavin du Plessis postponed the case to June 11 for the probation officer’s report as well as a possible plea bargain.
Abrahams’s bail of R1 000 was extended. - Cape Argus