The 17-year-old suspect accused of killing Deveney Nel made his first court appearance today and remains in custody.
Story Summary:
- The teen appeared in court and was charged with murder.
- The court heard that the accused had even participated in the search for Deveney before his arrest.
- The case has been postponed to 18 September for further investigation.
Deveney Nel accused killer kept in ‘place of safety’ after first court appearance
The 17-year-old suspect in the murder of Deveney Nel appeared in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court today, where he was officially charged with her murder.
The court heard shocking details from state prosecutors, who revealed that the accused had assisted in the search for Deveney before being arrested.
The court proceedings were brief, with the judge postponing the case to 18 September 2024 to allow for further investigation.
The accused killer will remain in a place of safety until then.
The murder of 16-year-old Deveney Nel shocked the community of Caledon.
She was last seen alive during a school sports day at Hoërskool Overberg.
When she failed to return home, her mother reported her missing, leading to an extensive search.
Tragically, her body was discovered later that day in a storeroom on the school premises.
The investigation revealed that she had been stabbed multiple times.
The suspect, who was reportedly known to Deveney, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the teen later provided a confession to the police.
During today’s court appearance, members of the community gathered outside, demanding that the suspect not be granted bail.
The case remains under investigation, with the next court appearance scheduled for mid-September.