Lifman murder case: State's case wasn't strong enough for accused to be denied bail, argues lawyer
Judgment in the bail appeal of two men charged with the murder of controversial Cape Town businessman, Mark Lifman, has been reserved in the Western Cape High Court.
Johannes Hendrik Jacobs (53) and Gert Johannes Bezuidenhout (37) are accused of murdering controversial businessman Mark Lifman. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/ Eyewitness News.
CAPE TOWN - Judgment in the bail appeal of two men charged with the murder of controversial Cape Town businessman, Mark Lifman, has been reserved in the Western Cape High Court.
Johannes Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout are accused of shooting and killing Lifman in George in November last year.
They were both denied bail by the George Magistrates Court and have now approached the Western Cape High Court hoping to reverse the ruling.
Jacobs and Bezuidenhout's lawyer, Advocate Mike Hellens, argued that the State did not present a strong enough case for the George Magistrates Court to deny his clients bail.
Hellens further argued that there was no murder weapon found in his clients' possession and no evidence of gunpowder residue was presented proving that the State arrested the right people.
He added that his clients presented all the requirements needed to be granted bail.
"The moment the State did not make up a strong case and the moment we made out good, ordinary principles, which together satisfy exceptional circumstances, then we are entitled to bail."
The prosecution, however, maintained that it has a watertight case against the pair.