[FILE] The Piketberg community handed a petition to authorities on Friday. Photos: Supplied / Facebook / Richard Makka Smit.
WATCH: ‘Ek skiet vir jou vrek’ – Piketberg cop hires William Booth, CCTV footage of shooting surfaces
Smit’s case was postponed after he changed his legal representation. He is now facing seven charges, including murder and attempted murder.
[FILE] The Piketberg community handed a petition to authorities on Friday. Photos: Supplied / Facebook / Richard Makka Smit.
Richard ‘Makka’ Smit, the Piketberg police officer who allegedly murdered his girlfriend Natasha Booise, made another appearance before the local magistrate’s court on Thursday, 13 January.
SMIT CASE POSTPONED AGAIN
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Smit was expected to make a bail application at the Piketberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday but this did not take place because the accused changed his legal representative.
Smit hired Cape Town-based attorney William Booth, who was not present in court.
“Booth was not present in court today and the case was postponed until Monday, 17 January 2022, for him to come on record and for a new date to be set for a formal bail application,” said Ntabazalila.
Smit was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
READ: Piketberg protests: ‘No bail’ for cop who killed his girlfriend, says community
The State has added four additional charges, as previously stated, and Smit now faces seven charges in total.
“Last week the NPA indicated that the investigation was continuing and more charges are likely to be added,” said Ntabazalila.
The seven charges include the alleged murder of his girlfriend Natasha Booise, the alleged attempted murder of Roslin Kaaiman and Erin Plaatjies, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, handling of a firearm while under the influence of a substance with “an intoxicating or narcotic effect” and two counts of assault.
According to a charge sheet seen by The South African, Smit used his 9mm Z88 service pistol in the alleged attack on the Piketberg Main Road on 2 January. The incident was recorded by a nearby CCTV camera.
The charge sheet said Smit allegedly threatened Roslin Kaaiman by saying “Ek skiet vir jou vrek” (I’ll shoot you dead) on the day of the attack.
The State said it is ready to oppose bail.
READ: Cop accused of murdering Natasha Booise in front of her son appears in Piketberg court
