Rob Evans’ second bail bid rejected in deadly whisky attack
BEHIND BARS: After being in custody for six months, Rob Evans learnt he will have to sit even longer, as his appeal against his bail dismissal was dismissed at the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday
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An Eastern Cape businessman's second bid for freedom was turned down on Tuesday when the Gqeberha High Court rejected his appeal for bail.
Rob Evans is accused of brutally killing his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, with a whisky bottle over Easter weekend this year.
The 36-year-old mother of two's body, which was littered with 23 injuries from head to toe, was found sprawled on the lounge floor of Evans' Oyster Bay holiday home on April 20, 2025.
Evans was arrested at his business, Algoa Plastics, in Newton Park on May 9, 2025, and has been in custody ever since.
Evans’ initial bid for bail was denied by Humansdorp Regional Court Magistrate Deidre Dickson on July 9, after which he appealed the decision.
His two-man legal team, Paul Roelofse and Danie Gouws, argued that Dickson made several errors in her judgment.
In their chief arguments, the defence said Evans should not have been arraigned on a Schedule 6 charge, which involves premeditated murder and makes it far more difficult to secure bail.
They further argued that Evans’ case did not meet the legal threshold for premeditation.
Judge Nyameko Gqamana dismissed the application.
"In summary, on the evidence as a whole which was presented at the bail hearing, the appellant failed to discharge the onus on the balance of probabilities that exceptional circumstances exist, which in the interest of justice permit his release on bail.
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