Dr Koos Roux hit & run suspect court date : 29 January 2014

[htone]

Come on people, we have PLENTY of time to mobilise. Let us be ready when the court date arrives.

 

His name is Geoff (Geoffrey) Merrick.

 

http://www.news24.co...t-risk-20130524

 

Hit-and-run suspect 'not a flight risk'

 

2013-05-25 07:34

 

Cape Town - An alleged hit-and-run driver was released on R3 000 bail when he appeared in the Kuils River District Court late on Friday.

 

Geoffrey Merrick, aged 51, a diesel mechanic from Brackenfell, Cape Town, faces charges of culpable homicide (manslaughter) and failure to stop after an accident.

 

He surrendered to the police 10 days after this happened.

 

It is alleged that his white VW Polo Classic collided with cyclist Koos Roux, a medical practitioner, on 12 May.

 

Roux was cycling with his son, Kobus, aged 19, in the early morning.

 

The police tracked down Merrick by means of debris from his damaged car found in the road.

 

Allegations 'insufficient'

 

Merrick appeared before Magistrate Bea Vermeulen, who said the charges were serious, but that her function was merely to decide whether Merrick was a flight risk, as alleged by prosecutor Andile Ngiba.

 

The court's function was not to decide Merrick's guilt or innocence, she said.

 

She said the State's contention that Merrick was a flight risk was based on the prosecutor's suspicion that he would abscond.

 

She said the allegation that Merrick had illegally fled the accident scene, instead of stopping, was insufficient to support the suspicion that he would abscond, especially as he had surrendered himself to the police voluntarily.

 

He had had plenty of time to disappear, had that been his intention.

 

Evidence was that Merrick had not been at his place of work or his residence when police went in search of him.

 

Intimidation

 

Merrick told the court that he became aware on Monday this week that the police were looking for him.

 

Instead of reporting immediately to the police, he had first consulted his lawyer.

 

He alleged that the police had tried twice, after his surrender, to intimidate him into making a statement, despite his right to not do so.

 

The police had threatened to oppose his release on bail, if he refused to make a statement, he alleged.

 

He said he was divorced, but engaged to re-marry, and that his wife-to-be was heavily pregnant.

 

Their baby was due "any day", he told the court.

 

The magistrate agreed with his lawyer his release on bail was in the interests of justice as he had no previous convictions, and no pending criminal cases or outstanding warrants for his arrest.

 

She warned him to return to court on 29 January next year, and that he would be taken back into custody if he failed to do so.

[DJR]

Why the hell postpone it to 29 January 2014? Ridiculous! Is there a way that something like this can be expedited? Justice needs to be fair to all, not more-than-fair to the accused only. That means swift justice. Next appearance within a month and a half would be reasonable, but almost 8 months down the line is just stupid. I'll scream bloody murder if it was my family! Actually, I am screaming bloody murder because all cyclists are my family!

[htone]

Why the hell postpone it to 29 January 2014? Ridiculous! Is there a way that something like this can be expedited? Justice needs to be fair to all, not more-than-fair to the accused only. That means swift justice. Next appearance within a month and a half would be reasonable, but almost 8 months down the line is just stupid. I'll scream bloody murder if it was my family! Actually, I am screaming bloody murder because all cyclists are my family!

The courts are extremely full and this court date is a consequence of that. Rather allow time for a full and proper investigation than rush it and not get justice. Geoff Merrick will live with his conscience until then and if you read the article his unborn child will forever have a father that killed an innocent man.

[htone]

Could this be him ?

 

https://www.facebook...rrick.3?fref=ts

 

I see he belongs to a group called:

 

Duck on strand t/a Drunken Duck

 

95 members

Pub & Restaurant

 

An infamous drinking spot in Voortrekker Road, literally around the corner from where the accident happened ?

[DoubleDee]

Could this be him ?

 

https://www.facebook...rrick.3?fref=ts

 

I see he belongs to a group called:

 

Duck on strand t/a Drunken Duck

 

95 members

Pub & Restaurant

 

An infamous drinking spot in Voortrekker Road, literally around the corner from where the accident happened ?

Is this why he fled the scene of the crime? Driving under the influence could have been the nail in the coffin for a lengthy prison sentence?

[htone]

Could this be him ?

 

https://www.facebook...rrick.3?fref=ts

 

I see he belongs to a group called:

 

Duck on strand t/a Drunken Duck

 

95 members

Pub & Restaurant

 

An infamous drinking spot in Voortrekker Road, literally around the corner from where the accident happened ?

 

I cannot say for sure this is the man, but this would be an unlikely coincidence otherwise.... perhaps some Hubbers in the area could comment ?

[DJR]

The courts are extremely full and this court date is a consequence of that. Rather allow time for a full and proper investigation than rush it and not get justice. Geoff Merrick will live with his conscience until then and if you read the article his unborn child will forever have a father that killed an innocent man.

 

You are waaaaay too reasonable a person!

[htone]

You are waaaaay too reasonable a person!

 

Naah, I just believe in "Karma has no deadline"

[Shebeen]

it looks like this guy does karaoke there. got to say the bail conditions are pretty loose. did he even hand his passport in?

Could this be him ?

 

https://www.facebook...rrick.3?fref=ts

 

I see he belongs to a group called:

 

Duck on strand t/a Drunken Duck

 

95 members

Pub & Restaurant

 

An infamous drinking spot in Voortrekker Road, literally around the corner from where the accident happened ?

['Dale]

Sonewhat related:

I read on bikeradar.com that a UK dude was sentenced to 10 years after admitting to guilt for killing a couple on a tandem.

It looked like a landmark verdict.

 

 

[M L]

If that is him it would be ironic that he likes african safe-T (https://www.facebook.com/AfricaSafeT).

[Gerhardc]

Seems like the guy in this FaceBook is some kind of DJ.....maybe something after work....extra income....

 

Please Police.....investigate well and do not stuff this up!!!

[Big H*]

R3000.00 bail????? Wonder how much if it were a Marikana miner???????

[Reg Lizard]

You know what guys, whether we get workedup about this or not, he will get a slap on the wrist and be set free...this is how things go in a society where there are no regard to the laws :-( if (some) of the llb graduates in this country cannot even write a formal letter, what confidence can we have in that the judges are better :-( sad, sad, sad...

[ccc2]

i agree , we must mobilise and keep the media interested in this case.

if anyone remembers the death of Marlo Carstens (on B'la'rey), the drunk driver was followed home by a witness and still the court threw out the case.

[Warren911]

Seems everything gets thrown out of court these days.

Doesn't fleeing the scene count as "flight"

 

i agree , we must mobilise and keep the media interested in this case.

if anyone remembers the death of Marlo Carstens (on B'la'rey), the drunk driver was followed home by a witness and still the court threw out the case.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Warren911