Pair in rugby murder off on R500 bail

By Tarryn Le Chat

As the trial got underway, the small Rawsonville Magistrates Courtroom was packed with spectators and journalists. The accused Ben Zimri, 26, of Ceres, and Wayne Matthee, 19, of Paarl, who were charged with the murder of Rawsonville flyhalf, Riaan Loots (24), both got off on R500 bail yesterday. Both Zimri and Matthee arrived at court in their Delicious Rugby Team jackets, while only the coach of Rawsonville, DP Spangenberg and executive member, Jerome de Villiers, wearing their black club jackets made an appearance. Magistrate Theresa Theron was presiding. Attorney, Barnit Klaase, for Zimri and Matthee, asked Theron for his clients to be freed with a warning instead of being held in custody till their next appearance in court on the 8th of September 2006. State prosecutor, Nolan Lendor also asked for a postponement of six-to-eight-weeks to tie up loose ends.

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