Wessels murder: Bail application postponed

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Derren Edwards (24), the man accused of the murder of Diego Wessels (17), made an appearance in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, 6 July, for a formal bail application.

Diego was stabbed to death on Saturday 27 June, for allegedly slashing the tyres of the accused’s car.

Warrant Officer Marizaan du Plessis, the investigating officer in the case, testified during yesterday’s court proceedings and recounted the circumstances leading up to the teenager’s death, which will be taken into consideration before the magistrate delivers bail judgment.

Circumstances

Du Plessis told the court that Diego and three of his friends were at a party at the D’Almeida community centre on the night of the murder, when a fight broke out inside the building.

An unknown individual then exited the building, slashing the accused’s tyres, the reasons for which are unknown at this stage.
Diego and his friends reportedly saw the unknown individual flee the scene and followed, also running away.

Du Plessis said that, in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity, Edwards and two other people allegedly followed Diego and his friends in a car, believing they were responsible for damaging his tyres.

The victim and one of his friends ran to Rosebud Street, D’Almeida, when one of the car’s occupants managed to catch up to the friend on foot.

After managing to chase the car’s occupant away, the friend turned around in search of Diego and allegedly saw Edwards stabbing him to death with a sharp object.

Diego sustained three fatal stab wounds, two to the chest and one to the arm.

According to Du Plessis, several people witnessed the incident, which led to Edwards’s arrest.

Opposing bail

Diego’s family and the State are opposing Edwards’ release on bail, saying that it would be traumatic to see him in the community and that, if the accused is released, the community will “take the law into their own hands and maybe kill him”.

The State argued that although it is a first-time offence for the accused, the crime is violent in nature and took the life of an unarmed teenager.

Edwards provided a second address, his aunt’s home in Cape Town, where he could stay while the case is ongoing, should he be granted bail.

However, the State voiced its concerns as to whether the accused will return from his aunt’s home in Cape Town to attend future court appearances.

The defence argued that Edwards is a good candidate for bail, seeing as he has no prior convictions, outstanding arrest warrants or any pending cases against him.

Additionally, the defence argued to have the community’s petition ignored as “there is no way to verify all those signatures; petitions should not sway the court’s decision”.

The State disagreed, arguing that petitions allow for the community’s voice to be heard. The petition was later included as evidence in the case.