Satanism expert to quiz killer

SANDRA LIEBERUM

JOHANNESBURG - Satanism expert Dr Kobus Jonker, former head of the SA Police Service’s satanism unit, is to evaluate convicted schoolboy murderer Morné Harmse to assist the South Gauteng High Court in deciding whether the boy was out of touch with reality because of “influences from the dark side” when he fatally wounded a fellow pupil with a samurai sword.

Many had expected Harmse, 18, who pleaded guilty in April to murder and three counts of attempted murder, to be sentenced on Monday. However, this will now take place in two months’ time.

Harmse, previously a scholar at the Nic Diedericks Technical High School in Krugersdorp, and now in custody, seemed in a fairly positive mood on Monday when he entered the court from the cells below and was hugged by his family.

Presiding Judge Flip Hattingh was informed that the prosecution wanted two experts on satanism – Jonker and Jan Kombrinck – to testify before sentencing, “since occult items had been found”.

The defence is also expected to call further psychological evidence.

Harmse, who wore a mask similar to those worn by the band Slipknot at the time of the killing in August 2008, underwent a psychiatric evaluation after his arrest and was found fit to stand trial.

From his April guilty plea it appeared that the killing of Pretorius and the attempted murder of fellow pupil Stephanus Bouwer and school employees Lesiba Manamela and Tsiamo Kodisang had been prompted by fellow classmates “laughing” at Harmse.

The plea statement described how Harmse and his friends had previously discussed doing something “to make an impression” and be “noticed” by the other pupils.

On the day of the incident, the accused’s friends retracted, and Harmse decided to make a stand alone. But when he “pulled the wire of a rolling bomb” made by a friend it turned out to be a fake.

Two friends and other pupils laughed at Harmse and he then lashed out “intentionally” and chopped Pretorius who happened to be walking past.

Questioning of the satanism expert will start on August 31 and the trial will run until September 4.