Lentswe, Orkney - Three men charged with attempted murder following a stabbing at a holiday resort shortly before Christmas last year have been released on bail.
Orkney Magistrates’ Court adjourned the case to February 24 for further investigation. Hanyane Ronauld Mei (47), Danile Nxamakele (35), and Pitso Radebe (47) have been in custody since 24 December.
They handed themselves over to the police after a mobile phone video of the stabbing incident that happened on December 16 at Hanscombe Haven was widely distributed on social media.
The video shows how Marc Hanscombe, owner of the day resort, is stabbed several times with a knife. According to a statement from the police, Hanscombe addressed people about the use of a ‘hubbly bubbly’ which is prohibited on the premises. “The people became aggressive, assaulted Hanscombe and stabbed him several times,” said police spokeswoman Col Adele Myburgh.
Hanscombe was admitted to hospital with serious injuries and was treated in the intensive care unit.
It has since come to light that shortly after he was discharged from the hospital, he slept in the police cells one night when the police arrested him on a charge of assault with intent to cause serious injury. The same people who attacked him and wanted to kill him with a knife laid the complaint against him.
André van Aswegen, his legal representative, told Lentswe that the state had not instituted any prosecution and had withdrawn the complaint. Hanscombe was then released. “We accept that the law will take its course and that the accused have been granted bail. It’s part of the process. However, that my client was detained for a night, and this while he is still recovering from his injuries, is unacceptable and was unnecessary.’’
According to Sivenathi Gunya of the NPA, as part of their bail conditions, the three accused must report to Jouberton police station daily and are not allowed to come into contact with state witnesses.
Hanscombe chose not to comment.
