A-34-year-old man accused of involvement in an armed robbery – in which Sun Valley resident, Rob Sonnekus, 52, was abducted and later found murdered – has been denied bail because he is out on early parole for murder.
Police spokesman Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the accused -who has been charged with armed robbery and appeared in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday August 31 – was out on early parole.
The news sent shock waves through the community, which is still coming to terms with the brutal way in which Mr Sonnekus died.
Mr Sonnekus was reported missing by his son, Jesse, 18, after an alleged armed robbery at his Corsair Way home on Saturday August 11.
Mr Sonnekus’s white bakkie was recovered two days later, stripped, in Mitchell’s Plain, and three suspects were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property.
On Wednesday August 15, the police’s search for Mr Sonnekus came to an end when his body was found at a sand mine in Macassar.
He had been handcuffed and shot in the head several times.
Captain Van Wyk said a case of murder had been opened in Macassar.
Sun Valley resident Peter Lombard said he was shocked to learn that someone “just down the road” from him had been murdered.
He said he had found it even more shocking that the man who appeared in court last week had been out on parole.
“People who have been convicted of murder should never be let out on parole,” he said. “Why was he out on the street when he should have been behind bars?”
There have been rumours of gang involvement in Mr Sonnekus’s death, but Jesse told the Cape Argus last week that his father had no affiliation to any gangs.
He said his dad’s body had been unidentifiable and that the family was struggling to come to terms with his death.
“We’re all pretty distraught. I have an older sister who is 30 and a younger sister who is 16. My dad retired four years ago to take care of us after my mom passed away,” he said.
He said his uncle, accompanied by police, had broken the news to the family after identifying his dad’s body.
Captain Van Wyk said blood had been found in the Sun Valley house and that two safes had been opened.