Suspect's third bail bid fails

NEW FACTS’

- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

A DURBAN man accused of murdering a former employee and attempting to kill another, faced a third unsuccessful bail bid.

Shirwin Nowtham appealed a previous bail ruling, which was dismissed in the Durban High Court last Thursday.

According to the appeal judgment, Nowtham had previously applied for bail in Verulam Magistrate’s Court. The application was refused on October 4, 2024.

He did not challenge that decision by appealing it, but elected to renew his application based upon “new facts”.

However, judgment in that application was delivered on March 14, 2025, and Nowtham’s application was again unsuccessful, resulting in him appealing the ruling based upon new facts.

The State alleged that Nowtham murdered his former employee, and shot a second former employee, who survived the shooting. He is alleged to have used a shotgun.

According to the court papers, the survivor said in a statement that he and the deceased had been picked up by Nowtham and a person described by him as being “Stephen”, who were travelling in a grey Polo motor vehicle.