News24 | Egyptian monk, priest appear in court for murder of three fellow priests

Two Egyptian nationals, Monk Saeed Basonda (37) and a priest, Samuel Avamarkos (47), appeared at the Cullinan Magistrate's Court, where they are facing three counts of murder.

A week after the gruesome discovery of the bodies of three priests stabbed to death at church premises in Cullinan, Pretoria, two men appeared in court in connection with the murders.

According to the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, the two Egyptians - monk Saeed Basonda, 37, and priest Samuel Avamarkos, 47 - appeared in the Cullinan Magistrate's Court on Friday.

They are facing three counts of murder. 

"It is alleged that, in the early hours of 12 March, the two stabbed and killed three priests, Takla Elsmwaeili Ayoub Attia Mossoud Mouss, Marcos Shawkat Nasry Morid Wanas Mina and Marcos Mofed Tawfek Isaac Youstos, at the church premises, Coptic Orthodox Church, where they all resided," Mahanjana said.

The three bodies were discovered by a worker when he reported for duty. 

After questioning by the police, the two were arrested.

The case was postponed to 28 March for bail information.

READ | Three Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church monks killed inside Gauteng monastery

Mahanjana said the NPA intends to oppose the bail application. 

Following the gruesome incident, the church's spokesperson said the three monks had been "subjected to a criminal assault inside our Coptic monastery".

News24 previously reported that one of the three monks was the deputy of the diocese of South Africa.

At the time, police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the knifemen had left the scene, without taking any valuables. 

The church's statement at the time indicated that an internal investigation had been launched, and that the Egyptian ambassador to South Africa had been informed.