South African Murder Suspects Refused Bail

Two of the four men arrested in connection with the murder of media researcher Dr Klaas Jonkheid were yesterday denied bail. The other two have been released without charge.

Jonkheid, who was the owner of Johannesburg agency The Consumer Psychology Lab, was found dead in the town of Stellenbosch last month, after attending the Southern African Marketing Research Society (SAMRA) conference.

The accused - brothers Elton and Wayne Smith - recently told the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court they were paid by a local pimp to burn Jonkheid's hire car.

After they were arrested, police found the hire car radio in Wayne Smith's room, and the spare wheel in the boot of their mother's car.

Detective Constable Stephen Adams told DRNO that two other suspects have now been released without charge, and that the date for the trial of Elton and Wayne Smith would be established when the court next sits on 22 July.