Durban Day accused involved in another stabbing

One of the two men accused of fatally stabbing Montreal King was suspended from school for another stabbing, a court heard.

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Durban - One of the two men accused of stabbing Montreal King to death was suspended from his school last year for another stabbing, but his victim was too afraid to press charges, the Durban Magistrate’s Court was told on Thursday.

Testifying in the bail application of Tristan Augustus and Radley Warner, investigating officer Constable Nazareen Govender said: “The victim told us he was too scared to open a case.”

She said Augustus had been suspended from school over the stabbing incident.

Augustus along with Radley Warner face charges of murder and attempted murder in relation to the September 6 fatal stabbing of King at the Durban Day concert staged at People’s Park near the iconic Moses Mabhida stadium.

The pair are seeking to be released on bail, but the state has opposed the application, saying that not only did they have concerns that the two would interfere with witnesses, but that their safety was at risk.

Govender said Augustus had received threats to his life. One threat posted on Facebook described Augustus as “Dead Man Walking”.

She said that one of the witnesses in her case had also been threatened.

Govender explained that many of the witnesses went to the same school as Augustus and some even belonged to the same gang — the Ogle Road Glamour Boys, or more commonly known as the OGB Gang.

She said that the principal of the Fairvale Secondary school where Augustus is a grade 11 pupil did not want him back out of fear for the safety of the other children.

Both men told the court that they intend pleading not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder.

In affidavits, read to the court by their respective lawyers, they claim that they too were assaulted and sustained injuries in the melee involving about 12 youths. Both said they did not have the means to flee and both were students — one at high school and another at a college.

“I will plead not guilty. I was also assaulted,” said Augustus in his affidavit, read to the court by his attorney Ridwaan Sayed.

Warner’s lawyer P Maharaj also read his client’s statement into the record. In his affadavit, Warner claimed that the complainant in the attempted murder case had wanted to withdraw the charge.

However, it emerged that neither prosecutor Sharon Moodley or Govender were aware of the intended withdrawal of the charges.

Moodley angrily said: “Already at the bail stage they are interfering with the State’s case.”

Maharaj replied that his client could not be held accountable if the complainant in the attempted murder case approached him.

The bail hearing before Magistrate Vanitha Armu continues.

ANA