Update

SEDGEFIELD NEWS - The case against Sedgefield local Sean Kelly, who made headlines after he admitted to killing his neighbour Noreen Hampson in February this year, was referred to the regional court last week, when Kelly was officially declared a patient of the state.

Kelly has been on trial for the gruesome hammer murder of the 67-year-old Hampson outside her house in Marigold Street.

On Wednesday 18 September, magistrate Zukiswa Hans read on record the psychiatric report that was compiled after Kelly had been sent for psychiatric evaluation, which found he suffers from schizophrenia and is not able to appreciate the wrongfulness of the offence. 

She referred the matter to the regional court where magistrate Emma Moloro the next day referred Kelly to Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town where he is to stay for as long as he is mentally unfit.

The charges against him, which apart from murder include assault, resisting arrest, and malicious damage to property, have not been dropped and he would have to stand trial were he to ever be discharged from the state hospital.