Nicole Johnson, an alleged gang wife, has renewed her bid for freedom by filing an appeal with the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court against the outcome of her bail applications.
Also read: Johnson’s bail application reveals alleged fraud, threats, and business struggles
Despite two failed attempts at freedom, the wife of alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield will appear in the Western Cape High Court next week to appeal the outcomes, claiming magistrate Atta Theart made errors in her judgements.
The notorious duo, along with Johannes ‘Bal’ Abrahams, Denver Booysen, and Jose Brandt, were arrested last year on various charges related to a manhunt and attempted murder of a former employee.
During the explosive bail hearings late last year, the State revealed that Ralph’s former employee allegedly stole more than R1 million from the couple.
The former employee, who is now a State witness, did not show up for work on November 24, 2022, after receiving information that Ralph intended to ‘kill him.’
The witness then hid his girlfriend’s BMW in a Milnerton complex and went into hiding.
According to the State’s case, Ralph and Nicole went on a ‘witch-hunt,’ threatened the witness’s father, ‘klapped’ an unsuspecting neighbour, and stole the car without the owner’s permission.
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Johnson and her husband were denied bail last year after a magistrate determined that they had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying their release.
Johnson then filed another application based on new facts, but was thrust into even more legal trouble when the State revealed evidence of her apparent fraudulent activities.
During the bail hearing, the state played an audio recording created by the tracking company. State prosecutor Nathan Adriaanse stated that they had obtained Johnson’s mobile records.
These proved she made the call and fraudulently claimed to be the owner of the vehicle in order to obtain the car’s location.
However, in her defence, he claimed that the owner was with her and knew she was calling the tracking company. She also mentioned her daughter’s medical condition and the decline of her businesses after her incarceration, but her second application was also denied.
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Johnson’s legal team claims in her most recent application that the magistrate failed to consider the fact that she had never been charged with a violent crime.
The team emphasised that Johnson travelled abroad while on bail for a separate matter and returned for her appearances.
‘The magistrate erred in mentioning – but not having sufficient regard to the fact – that the appellant had previously been released on bail and subsequent thereto on warning and had always appeared in court when required to do so.
‘In having inadequate regard to the fact that the appellant is not a flight risk, as is borne out by the prosecutor not having disputed that they have, as well as their familial, financial and emotional ties to the jurisdiction of this honourable court,’’ the application reads.
The appeal will be heard on 25 April.
Also read:
Nicole Johnson restricted from government business, says National Treasury
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