‘Shooter’ in Court

The DAILY VOICE can reveal the man charged with shooting dead a young mother in a taxi ambush was in custody for five days before cops could link him to the crime. Alroy Simon, 27, of Capricorn, appeared at the Wynberg Regional Court yesterday for murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Simon was taken into custody last Thursday in Muizenberg after allegedly trying to rob someone of their cellphone, but he was only linked to the taxi shooting days later. He is affiliated with the Junky Funky Kids gang. In 2011, he was convicted on a drugs possession charge, and in 2006 he was found guilty on a domestic violence charge. State Prosecutor Kagiso Kraai said on January 21 at about 8h30am, a taxi was driving on Concert Builevart in Retreat when it came under fire. “Witnesses place the accused at the scene and say he was the culprit,” he said. One of the victims was mom Leslynn Mentor, 26. A 30-year-old man, known only as Tas, was also killed. It is believed this man was the intended victim. The taxi driver was also shot and wounded in the front passenger seat. Leslynn, who was sitting directly behind the driver’s seat, was shot three times. Kraai asked the court for a postponement for Simon’s bail information. But this was met with resistance from Simon’s lawyer Andre Johnson. “There are two sides to every story. The State has a version, which is not cast in stone, and we wish to present our version,” he said. He said investigators visited Simon in jail on Monday, where they would have been able to get his full bail information, including his previous convictions, pending cases and outstanding warrants. “According to the law, he is entitled to due process within 48 hours. A further postponement would just be a luxury,” Johnson. Magistrate Xoliswa Ndoyana said the postponement would be granted, and added that Simon had only been in custody for this case since Tuesday. “Bail information will allow the State to make an informed decision… to oppose bail or not,” she said.