KNYSNA NEWS - The murder trial of SANParks employee Felicia Oktober resumed at the Knysna Magistrate's Court on Friday, January 13, but was postponed until March.
Oktober (27) was murdered in the kitchen of her Diepwalle home on August 25, 2016. She was stabbed 13 times and her throat was slit.
Her 29-year-old partner was arrested for the murder the next day and was subsequently denied bail by the Knysna Magistrate’s Court.
Court A was once again filled to maximum capacity with Oktober's friends, family, colleagues and the Diepwalle community, some of whom wore T-shirts with Oktober’s picture printed on them.
According to state prosecutor Sikokele Magxwalisa there had been a delay in obtaining the DNA results and he asked the court for postponement.
Carl Jeppe, legal representative for the accused, proposed that the case be postponed to March 30.
Magistrate Zolelwa Nomzaza agreed to this, adding. “The accused is to remain in custody for the duration of the investigation.”
Regional ANC Women’s League coordinator and local ANC chief whip Titi Gombo said, “I think they should have started with the case. I feel like it was completely unnecessary for the family to have to wait for that long for a postponement. We got here at 09:00 and the accused was only called at 11:00, but all parties were there on time.”
Another who expressed dissatisfaction with the court proceedings was Green Hearts activist Yvette Wilschut, who said, “The prosecutor knew that the case was going to be postponed and all the parties were there on time, but the family had to wait, in the same courtroom as the family of the accused, and share the same bench. What was the hold-up?”
Wilschut said she felt that victims in South Africa are not supported.
Oktober’s sister Amerencia Oktober said, “Coming to court for a postponement is very draining and seeing his face just brings back so many bad memories, although we have not forgotten and never will. We just want the trial to start already.”
Click here for previous articles:
- Local woman's brutal murder: Trial delayed
- Residents march against 'justice failure'
- Diepwalle murder: Accused wants to plead
- No bail for murder accused
ARTICLE: NWABISA PONDOYI, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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