Leonardo Mzingeli, 25, the man accused of murdering Amahle Quku has allegedly claimed that he was dating the Philippi teenager and has proof.
The family has denied this, saying Amahle did not have a cellphone as she was robbed two weeks before her death.
Mzingeli appeared in Wynberg Magistrates’ Court for the second time on Tuesday where he abandoned his bail application.
The accused looked pale, had a new open cut on his face and did not try to make eye contact with Amahle’s family as he did at his last appearance.
SUSPECT: ‘Killer’ Leonardo Mzingeli, 25
Nombeko Lephuthing from the Ilitha Labantu organisation says the bail abandonment was as good as “an admission of guilt”.
“That simply means he is guilty, what is missing is the admission. We want to hear him saying that he killed Amahle so that he can rot in jail,” the activist says.
Amahle was buried on Saturday in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape.
According to Amahle’s brother Lusindiso, detectives informed the family of the suspect’s dating claims.
The family is also not happy with the progress of the case as DNA results are still outstanding.
An angry Lusindiso says: “He told police that they had dated, but it is not true.
“The (DNA) tests are dragging the case and Amahle did not date him.
“She lost her phone during a robbery and he claims he has proof of chats between them, yet his phone is also missing and he does not say where it is.
“We also want Amahle’s clothes, he must tell us where they are.”
BURIED ON SATURDAY: Amahle Quku
The delay in the DNA results was due to Covid-19 affecting a state laboratory, the prosecutor told the court.
The accused remains in Pollsmoor and will appear again on 6 October.