Farmer up for teen’s murder in Coligny says he'll accept house arrest

The counsel of one of the farmers accused of murdering a teenage boy in North asked the court West on Friday to grant him bail with conditions‚ including house arrest.

JP Smith‚ counsel for Pieter Doorewaard‚ 26‚ argued that state does not have a case against him and his co-accused Phillip Schutte‚ 34.

Both men are accused of murdering Motlhomola Mosweu outside Coligny near Lichtenburg. The men claim Mosweu "accidentally" fell off the back of a bakkie while they were taking him to the police station for allegedly stealing sunflower from a field.

• READ MORE: Coligny residents protest as farmers apply for bailSchool pupils joined protesters outside the Coligny Magistrate's Court on Friday as two farmers accused of murder applied for bail.

They are applying for bail in the Coligny Magistrate's Court.

The state is opposed to their release and handed in a petition signed by residents of the town who do not want the men to get bail.

Said Smith: "If the court is inclined to grant bail‚ it can impose conditions‚ even if it's house arrest.”

• READ MORE: Coligny residents threaten chaos if murder accused farmers get bailResidents of Coligny in the North West have signed a petition against the release of two farmers accused of the murder of a teenager.

He argued that his client will not intimidate state witnesses as they have been placed in witness protection and Doorewaard is not familiar with them.

Both men's counsel earlier told the court that the men did not "lift" a hand to Motlhomola and that they had gone to the police to report the teenager had fallen off the bakkie.

The bail application continues.