Minor held over father’s death

A 17-year-old boy suspected of killing his father for planning to sell six tins of family maize will remain in custody after Senior Resident Magistrate Erick Malesi granted the police custodial orders.

This is after the officer investigating the matter told the court they needed more time to conclude investigations.

The teenager is said to have confronted the father after noticing he wanted to sell the maize. In a sworn affidavit, detective Hillary Kerich told the court that the police are yet to conduct a pathological test to ascertain the actual cause of death of the 54-year-old man.

Mr Kerich also said police must undertake a mental assessment test to establish if the suspect is in the right state of mind to stand trial.

“The offence in question is a capital one and it is within the interests of justice that the court grants the sought orders to enable me conclude my investigations,” said Kerich.