The men accused of raping and killing teenager Franziska Blöchliger have refused an offer of a plea deal by the State.
This came out at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday where Howard Oliver, Jerome Moses, Jonathan Johannes and Daniel Easter made a brief appearance.
They face charges of murder, rape and aggravated robbery following the death of 16-year-old Franziska on March 7.
The teen went for a jog in Tokai Forest and when she failed to turn up at an appointed spot to meet her mom and sister, a search was organised and her body was found.
At their last court appearance it was revealed they were in discussions with their lawyers about the State’s deadline.
BRUTALLY MURDERED: Franziska Blöchliger
Yesterday it emerged that Oliver, Johannes and Easter rejected the possibility of entering into a plea and sentencing agreement to avoid a lengthy trial, while Moses was still mulling over the deal.
Details of the plea agreement were not made public.
Oliver’s lawyer, Monique Carstens, also indicated that come the next appearance, the accused would be launching a bail application before the trial can begin.
Oliver is the only suspect linked by DNA evidence to the crime.
He was the first accused to abandon bail, followed by Moses. Johannes and Easter have both been granted bail.
It is expected that after the bail application, the state will serve the accused with indictments and the matter will be transferred to the Western Cape High Court for trial.
The matter is back in court on November 23.