Scenes of relief and celebration unfolded later as family members fetched the accused from Brandvlei Correctional Facility and Worcester Prison following the order. Emotions ran high outside the Western Cape High Court on Friday as the bail appeal of the 11 Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officers accused of murdering an alleged gangster were released on bail. The officers, who had spent nearly 50 days behind bars, challenged the earlier decision that kept them behind bars while the investigation continued.
Price died on December 4, last year following an interrogation linked to a shooting incident outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court the previous day. All the accused have denied the allegations against them. In their bail applications, they said they were shocked to learn that the State was opposing their release, especially after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) had indicated that they could be released on bail of R1 000.
However, during their bail applications only accused No.9 was granted bail of R1 000 due to health challenges. Attorney Bruce Hendricks and his legal eagle team representing all accused argued that there was no reason why bail should not be granted and that the lower court magistrate misdirected himself.
Read Full Article on Cape Argus
