3 Accused of Biehl Murder Released

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Three men accused of murdering American student Amy Biehl were released after posting a small amount of bail Monday and left the courthouse to be cheered by their supporters outside.

Prosecutor Nollie Niehaus did not oppose the bail request and asked that it be set at 250 rand (about $70) each.

South Africa’s new constitution stipulates that bail must be granted in all but extreme cases. While the bail was relatively low for a violent crime, the defendants are from one of Cape Town’s poorest townships.

The three blacks accused of killing Biehl, a 26-year-old white Fulbright scholar from Newport Beach, were told to return Aug. 15 for the next hearing. All three belonged to the militant Pan Africanist Congress.