KNYSNA NEWS - The long-awaited murder trial of SANParks employee Felicia Oktober was scheduled to commence at the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 17, but the case was postponed yet again, this time due to "missing" documents.
It has been almost nine months since Oktober’s body was found in the kitchen of her Diepwalle home on August 25, 2016, having allegedly been stabbed 13 times and her throat cut by her 29-year-old partner.
The accused, who was denied bail, cannot be named until such time as he has pleaded.
State prosecutor Candice Simons surprised those present when she told the court that the charge sheet was incomplete and that the docket "is not in my possession".
The accused’s attorney Carl Jeppe suggested that the case be postponed to June 19 and magistrate Preggy Govender agreed with the proposal, saying: “The postponement will give the state time to ensure that their documents are in order.”
The family of murdered SANParks employee Felicia Oktober was once again supported by the Diepwalle community.
Despite the swift arrest of the accused the day after Oktober's death, this case has been postponed several times for various reasons.
Oktober’s mother Magriet Oktober said, “I honestly don’t understand how dockets go missing and meanwhile each postponement adds salt to wound. My heart is very sore, I haven’t slept since my daughter was brutally taken away from us.
It was Mother’s Day just the other day, and I had to look into the eyes of my grandchild who no longer has a mother. How do I explain to him why his mother is no longer with us and, on top of that, I have to come to court just to see the person who is responsible for her not being here.”
Another family member Aubrey Elbruy said the postponements were frustrating. “It’s almost nine months and the case is not going anywhere. Each time we come to these postponements we take unpaid leave from our jobs, but we can’t help but feel our sacrifices are in vain.”
Click here for previous articles:
- Woman's brutal murder: Trial date finally set
- Local woman's brutal murder: Missing DNA evidence
- Local woman's brutal murder: Trial delayed
- Residents march against 'justice failure'
- Diepwalle murder: Accused wants to plead
- No bail for murder accused
ARTICLE & PHOTO: NWABISA PONDOYI, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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