No evidence to link man to teen’s brutal murder
|Published
The body of 18-year-old Leah Marchant was found dumped in the back of an Athlone house. The body of 18-year-old Leah Marchant was found dumped in the back of an Athlone house.
Cape Town - The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that charges against the man arrested in connection with the rape and murder of Leah Marchant have been dropped.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said there was no evidence to link 23-year-old Shadley Isaach to the 18-year-old girl’s murder.
“(There was) no direct evidence linking the accused to the murder. All we had were witnesses who saw the accused with the deceased earlier,” Ntabazalila explained.
Marchant ’s body was found in the backyard of a house in Appledene Road, Silvertown, a week ago. She was allegedly strangled and police also believe she was raped.
When contacted by the Daily Voice last week, police were scrambling to confirm the outcome of Isaach’s court case, thinking he was still in custody pending the DNA results.
But Isaach was released after a brief appearance in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.
The father of two, who admitted he smokes Mandrax, told the Daily Voice he last saw Marchant alive when they were “smoking a pipe” together in a park near the scene where her body was found the next morning.
Isaach said he reported to the police station after hearing cops were looking for him.
“After I was charged they did a DNA test which I agreed to but I didn’t have sex with her.
“We only smoked a pipe together and when we were done, she wanted another one but I went home. I left her in the park and I went home,” Isaach said.
The investigation continues.
Daily Voice