Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court has denied yet another appeal for bail by an elderly Lutzville farmer accused of mowing down a six-year-old boy and breaking his legs.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said an application by Christoffel Stoman, 70, to appeal the decision to deny his freedom, was handed down on Friday.
Stoman returned to the Lutzville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he is facing two counts of attempted murder and a charge of reckless and negligent driving after Khwezi Jantjies was run over with a bakkie, breaking both the child’s legs.
Billy Claasen of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation said the boy was walking with his mother Magrieta when the incident occurred.
His mother was not injured. The child subsequently underwent surgery and last week his mother joined Claasen at court where the activist read out a petition signed by more than 1500 residents.
Ntabazalila said after his bail was denied in October, Stoman returned to the Lutzville Magistrate Court and applied for bail on new facts on November 5.
“The bail application on facts proceeded and judgment was handed down on the same day. Bail application on new facts was denied.”
Stoman then lodged his appeal in the Western Cape High Court, which was dismissed on Friday.
“(Yesterday), the State addressed the court that the investigations are complete and asked the court for postponement for a Regional Court date.
“The defence did not object to the postponement.
“The matter is postponed to 13 January 2025 for Regional Court date. He remains in custody.”