A court ruling has prohibited murder-accused Darren Mettler

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: Janice Matthews janice.matthews@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Constantiaberg Bulletin

The new bail condition was set when he appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday April 11

Mr Mettler has been charged with the murder of his childhood friend, Roger Cochrane.

Police say Mr Cochrane, a father of two girls aged 2 and 16, died of blunt-force trauma to the head in January (“Call to withdraw R1 000 bail for murder accused,” Bulletin, March 21).

The case has been postponed to Tuesday June 11 for further investigation.

The court is awaiting a post-mortem report that is still outstanding, and the suspected murder weapon will be tested for DNA.

Mr Mettler was granted R1 000 bail at an earlier court appearance, but the State applied to add the further bail condition, saying the Cochrane family had seen Mr Mettler in Westlake and they feared for their safety.

The accused’s attorney, Revonia Campher, told the court that Mr Cochrane had not entered Westlake since he was granted bail and he was being mistaken for his father.

“His father fetched his clothing where he used to live, and the vehicle that his father was driving is the vehicle that is said to be normally used by the accused. Secondly, if the court should look at the accused’s father today and the accused, there are very striking similarities. With that having been said, in the first place, the accused person did not go and stay in the Westlake area. However, out of respect for the family of the deceased, we do not have objections to further addition to the bail.”

A 500-signature petition opposing Mr Mettler’s bail was presented to the court by Westlake...