Cape Town - An Australian chartered accountant, recently convicted in the UK of stalking a woman, made his fifth appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Charged with conspiracy to commit murder, Shumsheer Singh Ghumman, 32, of Cavendish Road, London, looked haggard as he stood in the dock.
His defence team, counsel Phillip Higgo and attorney Gerhard van der Merwe, told the court Ghumman was a man of standing in the UK. He worked as a fund manager for an investment bank.
Ghumman faces charges of attempted murder, arson and malicious damage to property.
According to a police media statement, he met Hannah Rhind two years ago, and started stalking her in the UK. He allegedly petrol-bombed the Rhind's family home in Clifton, Cape Town.
Tuesday's proceedings focused on a futile identification parade held late on Monday, which a crucial witness failed to attend. The need to have a second parade was "a matter of urgency", the court heard.
Higgo told the court the conspiracy charge was based on the testimony of the witness who failed to attend the ID parade. He said the defence could not prepare without clarity on this charge from prosecutor Ebrahim Adama.
He contended there was no justification for the State to pursue this charge. The outcome of the second ID parade, to be held this week or early next week, would determine whether the defence brought a bail application or not, he said.
The defence had been in close co-operation with the State, with a view to a speedy conclusion of the case.
There was a possibility of proceedings being shortened by way of a plea-bargain agreement.
The senior prosecutor in charge of plea agreements, Fiona Cloete, was present during the proceedings.
The matter was postponed to February 24, by which time the State has to have decided whether to oppose the intended bail application, or not.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Aussie-stalker-appears-in-Cape-court-20110208
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