Post-mortem report delays DPP to institute murder charge
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Thursday March 23, 2017 18:51
Molla was initially charged with one count of grievous bodily harm for allegedly assaulting 12-year-old boy, Ditiro Jerry in June 2016. But the police are yet to upgrade the charge to murder following the boy’s death a fortnight ago. Jerry suffered critical injuries, which put him in a coma that lasted months before his death.
State prosecutor, Bathusi Brown of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) yesterday told Broadhurst Magistrate, Faith Ngandu that they have not received the post-mortem examinations report.
“The post-mortem will enable us to proceed with the charge of murder against the accused. The defence counsel was here this morning but said that he had an urgent matter to attend to at the High Court,” Brown said.
He continued, “We agreed that there is nothing much to be done today but just to extend the remand warrant of the accused until the report is available”.
Molla was granted bail in February after several unsuccessful attempts. The bail was immediately revoked after Jerry’s death. He had been in custody since he was arrested in July 2016 as the Court waited for the boy’s condition to improve.
The deadly assault allegedly emanated from an incident that drove Molla into a rage when he heard his child crying. At the time, the deceased was playing with Molla’s child.
The case hogged the headlines as the boy fought for his life in local and South African hospitals, spending most of the time on life support.
Jerry died in the care of his parents, but on assisted breathing, through a tube after being discharged in December 2016. At the time of his release, he was unable to verbalise due to the tube that was inserted in his windpipe, but was declared, “generally stable” by a Princess Marina Hospital ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist doctor, Kagelelo Difela.
Meanwhile, Jerry was buried in Mosojane village on Saturday.
The accused will appear in Court on April 4, 2017 for status hearing.