FRANCISTOWN: The bail application of a 35-year-old Molapo Estates suburb man who allegedly threatened to kill his wife in May was postponed to June 26.
The accused, David Hollard, caused a stir in May after he allegedly threatened to kill his wife and confined her at their upmarket Molapo residence for three days.
The three-day stand-off ended peacefully after the police negotiated with Hollard not to execute his ‘threat’. Hollard was believed to be armed with a gun and ammunition at the time.
When Hollard appeared in court before Magistrate Tshepo Magetse today (Tuesday), prosecutor Bianca Ockhuizen told the court that investigations in the matter were ongoing.
“We are still waiting for the results of the ballistic report from the police forensic laboratory,” Ockhuizen said. Holland’s attorney Cele Lebakeng told the court that she was instructed to move a bail application. She added that the reason for applying for bail was because the complainant, who is the accused’s wife, is exploring ways to reconcile with him.
“The complainant has told the Investigating Officer (IO) about her intentions to reconcile with the accused but her efforts were rebuffed. Another reason for applying for bail is because the accused has been languishing in custody for 18 days and he has not seen his children ever since he was incarcerated. The investigations into the charge the accused is facing are complex in nature and they involve experts from different entities. We don’t know when they will be completed.
Be that as it may, the accused cannot be perpetually kept in custody pending police investigations,” Lebakeng said.
Asked by Magetse if she was aware that the accused has a GBV matter involving a child before the court in which the complainant is the City of Francistown Council (CoF), Lebakeng said that she was not aware of that.
Lebakeng said that she was only instructed to deal with bail in the threat-to-kill matter. Lebakeng also admitted that she was not aware that the accused was once ordered to appear in court but refused to do so.
Magetse then asked Lebakeng what the reaction of the public would be if he granted bail to an accused person who once refused to appear in court when ordered to do so. In response, Lebakeng agreed that court orders should be respected by all and sundry. She, however, reiterated that she was only given instructions to deal with bail in the threat-to-kill matter.
To pave the way forward, the court granted the defence files relating to other offences that the accused is facing for Lebakeng to fully prepare to move the bail application. Hollard is also charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, dangerous acts with a firearm and ammunition, and possession of dagga.
