Duncan Koekemoer (24) during Tuesday’s court appearance. (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media).
A noticeably irritated Duncan Koekemoer, who is charged with murder, had to turn things around at the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo after his bail application could not proceed as planned.
The reason for the delay was because Koekemoer’s (24) third legal representative, who he had appointed since his arrest in December last year, was not ready to proceed with the application. In contrast, the state was ready to proceed as planned.
Koekemoer is accused of premeditatedly murdering 22-year-old Reuben Marsberg from KwaZulu-Natal.
Christoff Nwaile, Koekemoer’s youngest legal representative, told the court on Tuesday that he was only appointed the day before.
“I am therefore still not sure how the bail application should be approached, and it would be in the interest of justice if we instead postpone so that I can thoroughly ascertain all the facts,” said Nwaile.
The court granted the adjournment, after which Koekemoer laboriously left the court in handcuffs and noticeably irritated. He only glanced around at three of his relatives sitting in the public gallery.
His application will now only be heard later.
The 24-year-old Duncan Koekemoer in the dock of the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on Tuesday. (Photo: Isabel Venter/Maroela Media)
Marsberg’s body was found last year in an open field in Louis Trichardt in Limpopo after days of searching for him. The body allegedly had a gunshot wound, and according to the indictment there is good reason to believe it is that of Marsberg.
According to the indictment, Koekemoer robbed and assaulted Marsberg in his home in November. Marsberg and his brother, Brent, had not been living in the province for long at that stage. They moved from KwaZulu-Natal to Levubu, about 40 km from Louis Trichardt, where they started working as diesel mechanics.
Reuben Marsberg (Photo: Provided)
On the day of his disappearance, Marsberg dropped Brent off at his girlfriend’s residence. The brothers then agreed that Marsberg would pick him up again the next morning. At around 08:00 the next morning, however, Brent could not get hold of Marsberg, and his mobile phone was switched off.
The state claims Marsberg was robbed, and when he resisted, he was shot with a firearm.
Koekemoer then allegedly stole Marsberg’s PlayStation, Toyota Land Cruiser, trailer and boat.
The motive remains unknown. Koekemoer, who allegedly “confessed everything” at the time of his arrest, has since remained silent. He also initially abandoned his bail application.