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Christmas Day murder accused is granted bail

BOIPELO MERE BOIPELO.MERE@INL.CO.ZA

MILTON Williams, 28, who is accused of murdering 19-year-old Dwayne van Coller on Christmas Day, was granted bail of R2 000 and is expected to re-appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on March 14.

Williams is accused of fatally stabbing Van Coller, from Colville, at the Kim-by-nite nightclub during the early hours of December 25, 2021.

Van Coller was rushed to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, where he died the same morning.

Witnesses claimed that Williams stabbed Van Coller before other patrons, brandishing beer bottles, intervened and chased him to his car and he fled the scene.

Williams, who went on the run, handed himself over to the police on January 17.

The investigating officer in the matter, Sergeant Modise Moshotloa, opposed bail, citing concerns for Williams’ safety.

Moshotloa told the court that Williams’ safety could not be guaranteed, based on how he was chased from the scene of the crime, as well as the anger of Colville community members who were opposed to him receiving bail.

The IO presented the court with a petition drafted by the community members who were opposing bail.

Williams was granted bail after an intense argument between the State and the defence regarding his safety.

One of his bail conditions is that he remain under house arrest in his home town of Campbell until the completion of the case.

He is further prohibited from having any contact with witnesses or from interfering with the investigation.

A large group of Colville community members had arrived at court to oppose Williams’ bail bid.

They carried placards calling for justice and many wore black or pink T-shirts bearing a picture of Van Coller.

The State prosecutor, Keneilwe Mosedi, argued that Williams be refused bail as he had apparently approached one of the witnesses and asked him to testify on his behalf.

She also mentioned that one of the community members had threatened Williams’ father on the first day at court.

The attorney for the defence, advocate Marcus Mafaro, was not successful in his attempt to convince the court that Williams be granted permission to come into contact with his girlfriend, who is one of the witnesses.

The State objected, arguing that his girlfriend had already presented a statement on the case.

NEWS

en-za

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

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