The trial for the rape and murder of a 10-year-old Manenberg girl has been moved to the Western Cape High Court.
The girl’s uncle, Carlo de Kock, and neighbour, Stanton Mano, who are accused of raping and murdering Chanelle McCrawl appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday where they were informed of the progress with the case.
Chanelle’s bludgeoned body was discovered on the banks of the Vygieskraal River on 20 October last year.
She had been reported missing a day earlier after she failed to arrive at school.
According to police sources the suspects had used a wheelie bin found at Audrey Court, where Chanelle lived, to dump her body.
During their bail hearing in January, it was revealed that the two men were allegedly watching porn and smoking drugs in De Kock’s house on the morning the girl was last seen walking into the house.
Their bail has been denied and they are currently in custody at Pollsmoor Prison.
According to a highly-placed source, a DNA test on the semen found on Chanelle’s pants was confirmed to be De Kock’s while a second sample had been taken from Mano earlier this year.
Magistrate Goolam Bawa informed the men that they were expected to return to Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on 13 June when they will be given a High Court date.
At their court appearance in March, members of Manenberg Women For Change called for the case to be moved to the High Court so it can be prioritised.