State turns down plea attempt from suspected hijacker

A SUSPECTED hijacker’s guilty plea was not accepted by the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday as additional charges could be brought against him.

Warren Rademeyer, 27, indicated he would like to plead guilty to a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances after he was arrested last week in connection with the hijacking of an NMMU student.

Second year nursing student Lauren Shovlin, 19, was robbed at gunpoint while waiting for a friend in front of a block of flats in Humewood last Wednesday.

The car was later involved in a high speed chase with the police during which gunfire was allegedly exchanged.

The other two occupants of the stolen car, Charlie Harper, 30, and a 17-year-old girl, who cannot be named as she is a minor, were wounded in the crossfire.

All three were arrested but no firearm was recovered. The two wounded suspects were released the following day.

-Gareth Wilson and Riaan Marais