Murder-accused Sarah Lee Naidoo abandons bail application in Julian Ramiah murder case

SARAH Lee Naidoo, accused of murdering Julian 'Julz' Ramiah in his apartment, has unexpectedly abandoned her bail application after both parties presented their cases.

The court heard shocking testimony that her minor child was present during the alleged murder.

Naidoo will remain in custody at Pollsmoor Prison as the investigation continues.

Naidoo, 29, is accused of having stabbed and murdered Ramiah during a violent altercation in his Bloubergstrand apartment, on September 1, 2025.

After both parties rested their case for the bail application of Naidoo made an about-turn and abandoned her application at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Both parties were expected to make their closing arguments.

However, Naidoo made a brief court appearance, during which her legal aid lawyer advised the court that her client had abandoned the bail application.

The matter has been remanded to May 12 for further investigation.

State prosecutor Adiel Jansen told the court the investigation had a number of reports and statements still outstanding in its investigation.

Jansen confirmed the post mortem report had been received but certain forensic investigations were outstanding and included witness statements, the blood spatter analysis, DNA, and subpoena applications relating to cellphone communications.

Jansen said the State would also request a reconstruction expert to form part of its case against Naidoo.

“There are quite a few things and those things by its nature take time (to gather),” Jansen said, before the postponement for further investigation was agreed upon.

Naidoo will remain in custody at Pollsmoor Prison and her next court appearance will take place via audio visual remand (AVR) the court said.

This week the court heard, through affidavit testimonies, from both parties arguing for Naidoo’s release.

The court heard from Naidoo’s mother and sister that Naidoo’s minor child - borne from the extra-marital relationship between herself and deceased Ramiah - missed his mother and often cried for her when they played videos of her. 

The grandmother and mother said that it had broke their hearts that he was separated from his mother and how he needed her.

Investigating officer Jacinta Govender stationed at Table View SAPS, opposed the bail application.

However she countered the impassioned plea for reunification in her submission when she revealed that the child was present when the brutal murder occurred.

Govender further said that to date Naidoo - in the absence of visible injuries or bruises to her body on the night of the murder and being found seated next to Ramiah with multiple stab wounds to his body - had given no credible explanation for why she stabbed Ramiah

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