Lawyer Charged With Attempted Murder Released on Bail

Lawyer Rael Kassel, accused of attempting to murder his partner, has been granted bail by the Western Cape High Court.

Rael Kassel, a Cape Town attorney accused of attempting to murder his partner, Sheline Uygun, has been granted bail after an appeal at the Western Cape High Court last Tuesday. But Uygun says she has not been informed officially of his release.

Kassel was denied bail on 14 August in the Cape Town Magistrates Court. In an appeal before Judge Rosheni Allie at the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, Kassel’s lawyers argued that he was 66 years old, suffering from diabetes and in need of daily blood sugar level readings and insulin injections. They said adequate care was not available at Pollsmoor Prison, where he had been held in custody since 2 August.

The state, represented by advocate Maresa Engelbrecht, opposed bail.

“Gender-based violence and femicide are a serious problem in our country and the NPA has committed itself to reduce the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. It is for those reasons that bail was opposed,” Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape, told GroundUp.

“This appeal was a matter of the safety of the complainant against the health challenges the accused is dealing with. Domestic violence matters are serious and courts are expected not to easily grant bail in matters like this.”

Judge Allie ruled that Kassel’s age, health and the need to be in an environment where he could exercise to manage his health as a diabetic were grounds for the granting of bail, which was set at R30,000. She also took into consideration that Kassel’s South African and Australian passports had been handed over, and that Kassel made firm on his intention not to contact the complainant by any means.

His bail conditions forbid Kassel from approaching or contacting Uygun in person or by telephone, pending the outcome of the trial. He may also not come any closer than 200 metres from her home and her business or employment address. He must report to Sea Point police station three times a week.

But Uygun, who was not aware of the bail appeal proceedings at the High Court, said she did not feel safe. She said she had only learned that Kassel was granted bail when contacted by GroundUp on Wednesday. By Monday 4 November she had still not been officially informed.

Kassel is to appear in the Magistrates’ Court again on 11 November.

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