Testimonies emerge in Gert Hitzoreth murder case

The murder trial of Bianca Jackson and Shaun Walter Beaton continued this week at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, where testimonies unfolded about Hitzeroth’s death.

Beaton faces a charge of murder for allegedly killing Hitzeroth by hitting him with a baseball bat and drowning him in a swimming pool. Beaton has pleaded not guilty.

Jackson, who faces obstructing justice and being an accessory to assault charges, also pleaded not guilty.

The court heard from Jackson, who described the events leading to Hitzeroth’s death. She testified that Hitzeroth had aggressively approached Shaun, clearly irritated.

Jackson recounted that Shaun tried to defend himself with a baseball bat, tapping Hitzeroth’s three times on the head, but with no intention of causing significant harm, just enough to scare him off.

Despite this, Hitzeroth allegedly continued to move towards Shaun, threatening to “mess him up”.

In a tense moment, Jackson testified that she took the bat from Shaun and threw it near the wine cabinet, fearing further escalation.

She then checked on her seven-year-old child, taking him to the bedroom to ensure his safety.

Jackson tried to call the police, but the calls did not go through. She then returned to the patio, where she found Hitzeroth kicking his legs in the swimming pool’s deep end. Shaun, armed with a pool net, tried to remove Hitzeroth from the water.

In a controversial moment, Jackson testified that Shaun had asked her to clean up blood on the floor near the deceased. However, she denied any intent to obstruct justice, saying she did not try to mop up the blood or conceal evidence.

This action has become a point of contention in the case, with the prosecution claiming it was an attempt to interfere with the investigation.

The defence for both accused argued that the magistrate showed bias during cross-examination, citing frequent interruptions as evidence of partiality.

Despite these claims, the trial continued, and the matter was postponed to February 26.

A pathologist is expected to testify then to provide further clarification on the cause of death and the medical evidence surrounding Hitzeroth’s death.

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