Cape Town - A Manenberg man accused of viciously stabbing his pregnant girlfriend to death has been sent to prison after making his first appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.
Moegamat Ghaliem Phillips, 42, made a brief appearance last Tuesday for the murder of Amirah Abrahams, where he was informed that the State would be opposing his release on bail.
Phillips was arrested by police last Sunday as detectives swarmed the murder scene where the 32-year-old mother of two was found with multiple stab wounds to her body.
At the time, her family revealed she was six months pregnant and that the couple was expecting a son.
It is believed police were called to the scene in the early hours of the morning after neighbours heard screams for help coming from the home they shared.
Relatives also revealed that she had left her home a few days before the murder after she was beaten by Phillips. Phillips was arrested on the same day and appeared in court two days later.
He was sent to Pollsmoor Prison and will return to court today for his bail information hearing before a bail application date is set. A relative, who asked not to be named, said the family planned to attend court proceedings to oppose the bail applications.
“The day of his first appearance was the same day as Amirah’s janazah (funeral) and so we didn’t go.
“His father went to court and also came to the janazah in Mitchell’s Plain and she was later buried at Klip Road Cemetery.
“We are going to court to oppose his bail application and believe he must be punished for this.”
The relative said before the burial, they were informed that Abrahams was stabbed nine times and was struck in the neck.
“From what we know she was stabbed nine times. She was stabbed in the neck, arms and hands and we think that was as she fought back. She has a seven-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter who are now being looked after by the family.”