PORT ELIZABETH - DESAI MURDER ACCUSED APPEARS IN COURT

MEMBERS of Port Elizabeth’s prominent Desai family focused their stares on the man who made a brief appearance in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, accused of murdering businessman and philanthropist Naeem Desai.

Deswyn Kleinbooi, 21, is facing a charge of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was positively linked by investigators from the Gang Task Team to Desai’s murder, which took place in Helenvale on Thursday last week.

This after Kleinbooi was arrested on Saturday for an unrelated crime – a gang shooting and attempted murder which took place in Ibex Street, Gelvandale, in November.

Kleinbooi appeared in the magistrate’s court on Tuesday in connection with last year’s matter.

In that case, he is facing charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

As the Desai family stared at him in court yesterday, Kleinbooi would not look at the gallery, where about 10 members of the victim’s family sat.

Desai was shot at a Helenvale spaza shop while delivering bread on Thursday.

Police suspect the shooting could have been a robbery but are not ruling out a hit murder.

Kleinbooi indicated he would not be applying for bail.

The case was postponed to June 28 for further investigation and he remains in custody.