The men were charged with murder‚ rape‚ robbery with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of stolen property.
Residents of Westlake and Tokai who packed the public benches in Court 6 gasped when prosecutor Kepler Uys announced the rape charge and said traces of semen had been found at the scene‚ and an orderly asked them to be quiet when Uys said there were also indications of anal rape.
Supporters of slain Tokai teen share family’s pain
The suspects‚ aged between 22 and 27‚ cannot be named until they have pleaded to the rape charges. The father of one of them is a warder at Pollsmoor Prison‚ next to Tokai forest.
One of the suspects asked magistrate Hafeeza Mohamed if he could be held at Pollsmoor Prison‚ rather than in the Wynberg police cells‚ saying the police did not feed him enough‚ he had no toothpaste or facecloth and he was not allowed visitors.
Remanding him to the police cells‚ Mohamed assured him he would get water‚ soap‚ shampoo in the cells. A spectator shouted: "This one wants luxury‚ ne? He doesn't deserve luxury."
Franziska’s schoolmates struggling to deal with her death
Uys said Franziska Blöchliger‚ 16‚ from Muizenberg‚ was jogging in Tokai forest on Monday afternoon when she was killed. Her iPhone‚ watch‚ headset and diamond ring were among items stolen from her.
Among the small crowd who gathered outside court were a delegation from Constantia Waldorf School‚ where Blöchliger was in Grade 10.
One of their placards expressed support for the women of Westlake‚ a low-cost housing development near the crime scene where the suspects were arrested after being pointed out to police by neighbours.
The four accused were arrested in Westlake on Tuesday evening after Blöchliger's stolen iPhone was activated in the area‚ allegedly when a man negotiating to buy it asked for proof that it was working.
PICS: Suspects appear in court for Tokai teen killing
When police arrived‚ community members pointed out known criminals they suspected of being involved in trying to sell the cellphone.
Also among the spectators at court was Jerome Olivier from Westlake‚ less than 1km from the murder scene‚ who said he enjoyed visiting Lower Tokai Park with his children‚ aged 5 and 1.
"Tokai is not a violent place‚ the only violence you get there is drunk people fighting‚" he said.
He was not scared of returning to the forest because the suspects had been arrested.
Marla Naidoo‚ from Rylands‚ said she had travelled to Wynberg because she knew the pain of losing a child. Her son was shot dead 29 years ago‚ she said‚ but the attacker got away with a fine of only R1000.
"I hope they (Blöchliger's family) get closure‚" she said.
– TMG Digital/Sunday Times
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