Western Cape High Court denies bail to father accused of murdering wife

THE welfare of three children has become the deciding factor in a Western Cape High Court's decision to deny bail for the third time to their father, who stands accused of murdering their mother.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

Acting Judge Roy Barendse emphasised that the children’s best interests must take precedence in this case, where the accused allegedly shot his wife three times over suspicions of infidelity.

Barendse said that, while not absolute, the best interests of a child are paramount in any case that affects a child.

In the most recent bail bid, the court highlighted that the current location of the children ~ aged 18, 14, and 12 - was uncertain.

“It is not clear where the minor children are currently living, whether a family member other than the eldest sibling is living with them and taking care of them, and, importantly, whether it is in the opinion of the social worker/s in the children’s best interests for the appellant to be released on bail,” acting judge Barendse said.

According to court documents, the father is the sole breadwinner and, before his arrest, was employed as a bus driver and owned a one-vehicle shuttle service.

In the lower court bail applications, it was stressed that he desperately had to go back to work to ensure that his children would not lose the roof over their heads.