Two men accused of killing gay night-club owner Bruno Bronn need time to appoint new lawyers, the Western Cape High Court heard.
|||Cape Town - Two men accused of killing gay night-club owner Bruno Bronn need time to appoint new lawyers, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday.
Lawyers Trevor Dykman and Marcello Stevens withdrew because of a lack of financial instructions from their clients John Frederick Coetzee and Fareez Allie.
The matter was postponed for a week, until Monday, for legal representation.
Coetzee and Allie, along with Achmat Toffa, are accused of killing Bronn, 50, in his Green Point home on February 7 last year.
According to the indictment, he was strangled and died of suffocation.
He owned the popular night-clubs Bronx and Navigaytion in Somerset Road, Green Point.
The men face charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Both charges carry life sentences.
Their trial was to have started a month ago but was postponed to allow Toffa to get a lawyer.
Coetzee, dressed in a tracksuit top and khaki pants, told Judge President John Hlophe that he was in a position to afford a private lawyer for the duration of the trial.
Allie, in a smart white suit, told Hlophe he would approach Legal Aid later on Monday.
Coetzee is out on bail of R20 000 and Allie of R5000.
Toffa was granted bail in the matter, but remains in custody at Pollsmoor Prison on two unrelated charges. - Sapa