Accused denied bail, fresh evidence emerges

Fresh forensic reports, new witness statements and updated crime scene photo albums dominated the proceedings on Friday 12 September in the trial of Johan 'Jakes' Jacobs and Gert 'Johnny' Bezuidenhout, accused of murdering Mark Lifman (57).

- Kristy Kolberg

Lifman, a controversial Cape businessman, was shot dead in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall on 3 November 2024. Hours later, Bezuidenhout and Jacobs were arrested at the T-junction of the N9 and N12 near Uniondale.

During Friday's appearance, the defence, led by Adv Michael Hellens SC, argued that the State had failed to comply with the magistrate's directive issued on Monday 25 August.

The order required all additional particulars to be provided to the defence by 29 August. Hellens claimed the investigation had not been concluded as previously stated in court, citing a recent visit by investigators to a Cape Town firm to obtain another statement as evidence that work was still ongoing.