Family of slain traffic officer Walton van Rooyen pleads with court to deny his alleged killer bail
Craig De Lilly is accused of shooting and killing Van Rooyen at a routine stop in March 2020.
City of Cape Town Mayco member for Safety and Security MMC JP Smith (left) attending court with relatives and colleagues of Walton van Rooyen who was shot and killed on duty in Kensington in March 2020. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN
CAPE TOWN - The family of slain traffic officer Walton van Rooyen has pleaded with the court not to grant his alleged killer bail.
Craig De Lilly is accused of shooting and killing Van Rooyen at a routine stop in March 2020.
He was arrested, but charges against him were provisionally withdrawn a month later.
The suspect was later re-arrested earlier in July, after new information emerged.
De Lilly made a brief appearance in a courtroom packed with Van Rooyen's colleagues, his family, and the De Lilly family.
The court heard that the accused had spent 10 years in prison for attempted rape, kidnapping, and robbery.
Van Rooyen family spokesperson, Stanley Burger, said that releasing De Lilly on bail would be spitting in the face of traffic cops who are in constant danger for doing their jobs.
"We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the SAPS. The fact that they continued investigating the case even after five years shows that there is still commitment within our justice system."
The formal bail application has been set down for August 11 and 12.