Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
18 March 2025
Innocent Sopoli (19) reappeared before the Evander Magistrate Court for his bail judgement on Tuesday, 18 March 2025
On his previous appearance the investigation officer was ordered to verify his alternative address and the school he was to be transferred to.
The investigation officer found that his uncle was willing to accommodate him and the school he was to be transferred to preferred to see the accused and his parents in person before they could accept him.
The State argued during final arguments that the altercation between the accused and the deceased about the desk was on a previous day and accused had intentions to murder the deceased on the day of the incident hence he is charged with premeditated murder.
It was heard before court during bail application that the accused intends to not plead guilty.
The court found that it weighs in the accused favour that he is still doing Grade 10 and that there’s a likely hood that he would be admitted to a school outside the province and that he would not interfere with the witnesses.
Sopoli was released on a fixed bail of R2000.00 under conditions that he relocates from Secunda until his matter is finalised, does not interfere with the witnesses, and does not contact his friends and witnesses in the matter in anyhow.
The matter was postponed to the 02 May 2025 for further investigation.
