Family and friends of Junade Faulkner (19) from Pellsrus in Jeffrey’s Bay who
was shot and killed on February 8 in Graaff-Reinet, gathered at the
Graaff-Reinet Magistrate’s Court to oppose bail against
the alleged murderer.
Irwin Faulkner, Junade’s cousin, said his family stood in front
of the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate’s Court yesterday, February 15 and then proceeded to hand over a letter
to the judge on behalf of Junade’s mother, Almaree Faulkner, to request that
bail be denied.
“All we want now is justice for Junade. The accused needs to be
brought to justice for what he has done,” Irwin said.
Junade was killed in Graaff-Reinet just three weeks after he started as a first year student at East Cape Midlands TVET College.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Bradley Rawlinson, the
suspect – Garick Koetaan (40) – made his first
court appearance yesterday. He was released on R1 500 bail.
“Koetaan is due to appear at the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate’s Court again on March 29,” said Rawlinson.
Faulkner’s brother, Joshne, shared an emotional message on his Instagram account a day after his brother’s murder.
“Just the other day Junade called me and said ‘please come home, I’m going away for college’ and I told him I’m coming. . . but I never did. I’m so sorry – if I knew that’s going to be the last time I’ll see you, I would have been there,” he wrote.
