Third Henning accused in bail bid

One of the suspects arrested after the drive-by shooting of assistant school teacher Chanelle Henning is expected to apply for bail on Wednesday.

The State indicated on Tuesday that Preshan Singh, 24, who appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court with Ambrose Monye, 37 – a former Nigerian Olympic athlete – and former police officer André Gouws, 47, would apply for bail on Tuesday.

The case of Monye and Gouws was postponed to January 17 for a bail application.

Two other accused, Willem Pieterse (no age given) and suspended Hercules police officer Gerhardus du Plessis, 34, appeared separately. Their case was postponed to December 14.

The five men face charges of conspiracy to murder, murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

They were arrested after Henning was shot shortly after she had dropped off her five-year-old son at a crèche in Faerie Glen on November 8.

State prosecutor Andrea Johnson told the court said on Tuesday that negotiations were under way between the State and the legal representatives of Du Plessis and Pieterse.

It is not clear what the negotiations are about, but Du Plessis and Pieterse’s bail application “will depend on the outcome of the negotiations”, Johnson said.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations were under way for a possible plea bargain and sentence agreement.

They may be asked to come to court before their next appearance scheduled for December 14.

“This will depend on the outcome of the negotiations,” said Mhaga.

A plea agreement had not yet been reached.

Johnson said Monye and Gouws’s bail application could not proceed on Tuesday “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

Monye’s advocate, André Swanepoel, told the court that police had his client’s bank cards and he needed them to do transactions, including paying his legal fees.

Swanepoel said the police should return the bank cards or make alternative arrangements for Monye to access his funds.

He said they had also been told by the State “that a notice of eviction was served on the premises of (Monye)”.

“The police are the only people who are aware of the eviction notice. It should be made available to the accused,” he said.

Johnson said police were looking into Monye’s bank ac-count. Swanepoel indicated they might go to the high court if they fail to get the bank cards back. - Pretoria News

• Henning killer accused might be freed

• Henning murder accused in plea bargain