Two Parkwood skollies charged with the murder of a seven-year-old boy have made an application to be released from Pollsmoor Prison after claiming they did not shoot him.
Little Ezra Daniels was killed on 3 September last year when a bullet intended for a gangster hit him in the neck while he was playing in Abdullah Moosa Walk in Parkwood.
His death sparked a riot as residents marched and threw bricks at the home of the alleged leader of the Junky Funkys gang, Tasliem “Thaliem” Bianchi.
Thaliem, along with Ikeraam Bianchi, Marlon Neehuis, Kelly Daniels and Kimberley Solomons, were arrested for Ezra’s murder shortly after the shooting.
BAIL APPLICATION: Marlon Neehuis
During court proceedings, it was revealed they had allegedly planned to kill a member of the Americans gang, Aden Brown, but failed.
Solomons and Daniels were granted R1 000 bail in November last year.
Bianchi and Neehuis appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for their bail hearing.
Represented by Advocate Adrian Samuels, the pair indicated that they intend to plead not guilty to the murder charges and could each pay R1 500 for bail.
But proceedings stalled as the investigating officer who was expected to take the stand had to attend another court case at the same time.
The State has opposed bail, claiming Bianchi and Neehuis had a pending attempted murder case, but Samuels disputed this.
“I have affidavits from both of the accused and they will plead not guilty,” the lawyer said.
Magistrate Goolam Bawa postponed the case until 9 May when all five accused are expected to be in court.
Ezra’s heartbroken mother, Desireé, says on 17 April she hosted a party for the children in Parkwood to celebrate what would have been her son’s eighth birthday.
‘NOT GUILTY’: Suspect Ikeraam Bianchi
She says the community handed over a petition opposing the bail of Bianchi and Neehuis.
“I am so frustrated with the delays and I have written a letter to the Justice Department,” the mom says.
“We don’t have money to have fancy lawyers and we must rely on the state. We just want justice for our child, but we don’t even have a dedicated prosecutor.
“Every time I go past Klip Road Cemetery, I can’t even look because I can just remember how my child died in front of me.”