Lifman’s murder suspects’ 2nd bail application continues in George

Breaking News Update

GEORGE NEWS - The defence representative for Johan ‘Jakes’ Jacobs, one of the alleged killers of the controversial Cape Town businessman Mark Lifman (56), argued in the George Regional Court this morning, Wednesday 28 January, that the State’s hands in the matter are not clean.

According to Adv Michael Hellens SC, the State misled the court during previous appearances by claiming that the matter had been finalised and that it was ready to proceed to trial.

Hellens argued that the State deliberately played for time to prevent the case from being struck off the court roll. This allegedly misleading conduct by the police and the State, he said, resulted in delays in securing a trial date.

Hellens said the bail application, the second to be brought, is based on new facts obtained after Jacobs and his co-accused, Gert Bezuidenhout, had been denied bail for the first time in the George Magistrate’s Court in January 2025.

The police arrested the two on 3 November 2024, a few hours after Lifman had been shot dead in the Garden Route Mall’s parking area.

Heads of argument are continuing this morning.

With George Herald ’s arrival at court this morning, some men wearing medical masks were busy with a silent protest in favour of the accused’s release on bail. They refused to answer any questions about their protest and what it was about.

Masked men taking part in this morning's silent protest in front of court. Photo: Kristy Kolberg