Sedgefield fatal crash: Case going to trial in September

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Significant progress has been made in the long-running culpable homicide case involving the death of 41-year-old Danielle van Jaarsveld, with a trial date now confirmed in the George Regional Court.

The matter will proceed to trial from Tuesday 29 September to Friday 2 October, more than three years after the fatal crash in November 2022.

The setting of a trial date this morning, Tuesday 30 June, follows a series of delays in recent months, including the most recent pre-trial conference last week, which was postponed after the trial prosecutor was unavailable due to family responsibilities.

Van Jaarsveld’s family, who have attended multiple court appearances over the years, have previously voiced frustration at repeated postponements in the matter.

The accused, Gareth Webster, indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to the charge of culpable homicide involving the use of a motor vehicle.

While Webster admitted that he was driving an Audi SQ5 on Swartvlei Beach Road on 6 November 2022 and was involved in a collision with Van Jaarsveld’s Kia Rio, he denies that he wrongfully caused or contributed to the crash.

Van Jaarsveld’s sister-in-law, Monique van Zyl, was a passenger in the vehicle and sustained serious injuries for which she is still undergoing rehabilitation.

The defence has also confirmed that the identity of the driver, the vehicles involved and the occurrence of the collision are not in dispute. The medical evidence relating to Van Jaarsveld’s cause of death is also uncontested.

The postponements follow the collapse of a proposed plea agreement previously submitted by the defence, which the family rejected after consultation with the senior prosecutor.

Webster, who was employed by Audi Centre George at the time and now works in Knysna, first appeared in court in October 2023. The matter was provisionally withdrawn in March 2024 while the State awaited a forensic report, before being reinstated earlier this year and transferred to the regional court.

Van Jaarsveld’s family also engaged AfriForum’s private prosecution unit in 2024, which assisted in ensuring the matter was returned to the court roll.

Webster remains out on warning.

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