WATCH: Tot's ‘killer has long rap sheet’
VICTIM: Little Liam Petersen, 3 VICTIM: Little Liam Petersen, 3
The man arrested for the murder of three-year-old Liam Petersen of Hillview has made his first appearance in court and is believed to have a long list of previous cases against him.
Dillion van der Vent appeared at the Muizenberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he faced the angry grandparents of the little boy and the community of Hillview.
The matter was postponed to today for his Legal Aid lawyer to come on record.
Residents, armed with posters, called for justice for Liam.
The suspect was arrested last week, just days after the murder of little Liam.
ANGERED: Family of Liam outside Muizenberg court
Liam and his 26-year-old father were shot by a masked gunman in their front yard in Tafelberg Road in Hillview, just after 6pm on Monday, 15 June.
The father, who was shot twice, told the Daily Voice he had used his body as a shield to protect his son, but it was too late.
He said he even asked the gunmen why he was shooting them because he was not a gangster.
ANGERED: Family of Liam outside Muizenberg court
Liam’s grandfather, 49, who asked not to be identified, says Van Der Vent is a skollie and has a long rap sheet, and is allegedly a member of the Junky Funky gang.
The oupa says they are heartbroken at the death of their grandson, who could have lived if Van Der Vent was in jail.
“He doesn’t have a heart. He already has cases hanging, cases of possession of a firearm, possession of drugs, why was this man even outside?”
The State has yet to present Van der Vent’s rap sheet to the court and to indicate whether he will be applying for bail.