The formal bail application of Jaen-Lee Pyne, the man accused of murdering a Heidelberg CPF member and wounding another, has reportedly been postponed to next Wednesday.
Pyne, 30, is charged with murder and attempted murder after the local CPF chairman, Flip Minnaar, was seriously wounded and his CPF colleague, Etienne du Preez, killed by a man on a silver motorbike, wearing a black jacket and a multicoloured helmet in June.
Several residents, as well as spokespersons for the Du Preez and Minnaar families who asked not to be named, told TimesLIVE Premium that three members of Minnaar's household — his wife Loekie, son Le Roux and daughter Clarise, had protection orders against Pyne after his rocky relationship with Clarise Minnaar ended last year.
Her brother, Le Roux Minnaar, also has a pending case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against Pyne which will be back in the Heidelberg magistrate’s court on July 30, a day before his next appearance on the murder and attempted murder charges.
While the wheels of justice may turn slowly, the war of factional petitions has started. The investigating officer handed in a petition to court on Wednesday with 2,500 signatures of local residents requesting that Pyne not be released on bail.
A resident who was involved in collecting signatures, told TimesLIVE Premium the results exceeded their hopes and expectations.
“This town doesn't easily sign petitions. Collecting 2,500 signatures is some feat,” the resident, who asked not to be named, said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Pyne's mother, Karen Anagnostatos, started her own online petition on Change.org last week which has so far only collected 60 signatures.
“This petition arises from a personal plea. A 30-year-old man, the son of someone beseeching for help, has been charged with murder and attempted murder based solely on rudimentary and unreliable evidence. His supposed crime? Wearing the same clothes as the shooter and a bike helmet. The accuser's past relationship with this young man, marred by conflict, raises questions about the credibility of the allegations,” Anagnostatos said in her petition.
Residents close to the families of the two victims are livid.
“This is a perfect example of the law of unintended consequences. Pyne's mother wanted to combat the petition the community handed in, but she used an international site. Never mind that she collected only 60 signatures, how do we know if the 60 people who signed are even from Heidelberg?”
When TimesLIVE Premium phoned her this week, Karen Anagnostatos did not want to comment.
“My son is being unfairly accused. I will talk to you when I am ready to talk to you,” Anagnostatos said.
It is understood by TimesLIVE Premium that Pyne's bail appearance was postponed to July 31 and his next appearance in his pending GBH matter will be on July 30.
The NPA spokesperson did not respond to TimesLIVE's request for comment. This story will be updated when the response is received.
