There was a frenzy of activity when one of Anene Booysen's alleged killers, Johannes Kana, appeared in court for the first time.
|||Bredasdorp, Western Cape - There was a frenzy of activity in the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday when one of Anene Booysen's alleged killers appeared for the first time.
Johannes Kana, 22, hid his face with a towel as he was led into the small court room.
News cameramen jostled to get a photo of the thin man with tattoos on both arms.
Members of the public whispered furiously.
Magistrate Graham Cupido told Kana that he faced charges of raping and murdering 17-year-old Booysen in Kleinbegin.
She was found disembowelled at a construction site last week Saturday and later died from her injuries.
She was buried in the rural town, about 180 kilometres from Cape Town, at the weekend.
The magistrate asked if he would like to apply for legal aid or use his own lawyer.
Kana softly replied that he would use the State's lawyer.
His mother jumped up from the court bench and screamed “eie prokureur” (own attorney).
When Kana was asked if he would be applying for bail, his mother again sprung up and shouted “Sê ja man” (Say yes, man).
The court ruled earlier on Monday that the media were allowed access to the case because of public interest.
The media were prohibited, however, from showing Kana's face in the newspaper or on television.
Prosecutor Maria Marshall had told the court that she did not want the accused's face to be shown as the case was still in the early stages of investigation and could be jeopardised because they were gathering statements. - Sapa