KNYSNA NEWS - Elaine King reports from the Knysna High Court that the Knysna couple who fell victim to an alleged robber and rapist in August last year, were seen in the court room today.
The high profile court case started this morning.
The couple were being shown around and comforted by victim support Lezelle Crotz. Judge Lee Bozalec from Cape Town will preside. Junior advocate Gerda Marx and senior advocate Jan Theron will appear for the State. The case is set to run for two weeks and 24 state witnesses are expected to testify. It was possible that the victims might testify today, before the accused started his so-far expected pattern of chopping and changing his legal aid.
By midday the accused had said he did not want to be represented by Sedgefield attorney Andre Kleynhans and was insisting on representation from a George advocate.
Just before lunch the accused said that he could raise R50 000 deposit to pay for the advocate’s fees and Judge Bozalec agreed to allow him to phone his sister in Baviaanskloof who the accused said owned a farm and would give him the money.
The judge stressed that in order for this to be an acceptable arrangement this legal representation would have to start tomorrow (March 3) and run for two weeks as was set out.
Judge Bozalec also encouraged the accused to rather make use of an experienced attorney, Andre Kleynhans “who was sitting before him” and free, rather than carry a large cost to himself.Click here for previous articles:
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