Six people accused of murdering a money lender intend to plead not guilty, the Durban Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.
In their affidavits read into the record by their respective attorneys, the six said they had no knowledge of the crime.
Attorney Jayshree Baijnath, 39, businesswoman Shana Mangroo, 44, Dhanaseelan "Deven" Manickam, 43, businessman Rajendran Chetty, 44, advocate Veronica Rathilal, 44, and panelbeater Logandren Francis, 27, are all charged with murder.
A seventh accused, Claude Reginald, did not appear as he was in Durban's Chatsmed Hospital.
Their arrest followed the conviction earlier this month of Gregory Pillay, who was sentenced to 18 years' jail for the murder of Narend Anendrai after pleading guilty.
Anendrai was shot dead in Chatsworth on March 18 in his Mercedes-Benz by Pillay, who claimed that he had been paid R20,000 for the hit, although he had been promised R120,000.
The Daily News reported earlier this week that Pillay had testified that Manickam had given him the weapon he used.
Prosecutor Nadira Moosa said the State was not opposing bail, but insisted that five of the six who appeared on Friday morning pay bail of R50,000 while Francis pay bail of R10,000.
Reading their respective client's affidavits, the lawyers said their clients could afford R10,000, while Francis's lawyer Siven Samuel said his client could afford only R5000.
Moosa said going by the strength of the legal teams present in court, the bail amounts requested by the six accused were "meagre".
Magistrate John Moore ruled that all but two of the six would have their bail set at R10,000. He set bail for Mangroo and Francis at R5000.
Baijnath said in her affidavit: "I am not guilty of the charge and intend pleading accordingly."
She said she had known Anendrai for 10 years and was a good friend. She said she had handled a number of cases for him.
All of the accused had no criminal records, with the exception of Chetty, who was convicted of assault in 1999.
Mangroo said: "I fail to understand how I can be charged with murder."
Moore ordered that the six abide by certain conditions, which included not leaving the province or the city, as well as staying away from Anendrai's home and not making contact with any State witnesses.
The matter was postponed to October 1 for further investigation.
Six say they will fight murder charge
Six people accused of murdering a money lender intend to plead not guilty, the Durban Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.
In their affidavits read into the record by their respective attorneys, the six said they had no knowledge of the crime.
Attorney Jayshree Baijnath, 39, businesswoman Shana Mangroo, 44, Dhanaseelan "Deven" Manickam, 43, businessman Rajendran Chetty, 44, advocate Veronica Rathilal, 44, and panelbeater Logandren Francis, 27, are all charged with murder.
A seventh accused, Claude Reginald, did not appear as he was in Durban's Chatsmed Hospital.
Their arrest followed the conviction earlier this month of Gregory Pillay, who was sentenced to 18 years' jail for the murder of Narend Anendrai after pleading guilty.
Anendrai was shot dead in Chatsworth on March 18 in his Mercedes-Benz by Pillay, who claimed that he had been paid R20,000 for the hit, although he had been promised R120,000.
The Daily News reported earlier this week that Pillay had testified that Manickam had given him the weapon he used.
Prosecutor Nadira Moosa said the State was not opposing bail, but insisted that five of the six who appeared on Friday morning pay bail of R50,000 while Francis pay bail of R10,000.
Reading their respective client's affidavits, the lawyers said their clients could afford R10,000, while Francis's lawyer Siven Samuel said his client could afford only R5000.
Moosa said going by the strength of the legal teams present in court, the bail amounts requested by the six accused were "meagre".
Magistrate John Moore ruled that all but two of the six would have their bail set at R10,000. He set bail for Mangroo and Francis at R5000.
Baijnath said in her affidavit: "I am not guilty of the charge and intend pleading accordingly."
She said she had known Anendrai for 10 years and was a good friend. She said she had handled a number of cases for him.
All of the accused had no criminal records, with the exception of Chetty, who was convicted of assault in 1999.
Mangroo said: "I fail to understand how I can be charged with murder."
Moore ordered that the six abide by certain conditions, which included not leaving the province or the city, as well as staying away from Anendrai's home and not making contact with any State witnesses.
The matter was postponed to October 1 for further investigation.
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