Gert Hitzeroth murder case delayed again as state prosecutor falls ill

The murder case of Gert Hitzeroth, in which Bianca Jackson and Shaun Walter Beaton stand accused, has once again been postponed this time due to the ill health of the State prosecutor, who has been booked off from work until September 22.

Proceedings were scheduled to resume on September 3 at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, where final arguments from both the state and the defence were finally expected to be heard.

However, with the prosecutor unable to attend, the matter has now been delayed yet again.

This marks yet another in a series of postponements that have plagued the case.

The court had initially set down May 21 as the date for arguments, but those proceedings were also derailed that time due to faulty court recording equipment in Regional Courtroom 6. With no alternative venue available, the magistrate had postponed the case to July 15.

However, progress remained stalled and arguments remain unheard more than three months after they were originally scheduled.

Forensic evidence suggests violent assault

The latest delay follows several key developments earlier this year, including the testimony of senior pathologist Dr Tinyiko Nkondo, who delivered her post-mortem findings during a hearing on February 26.

Nkondo concluded that Hitzeroth died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries, with possible drowning as a contributing factor findings that appear to contradict the defence’s early claims that the death occurred solely in a swimming pool.

According to her testimony, Hitzeroth sustained extensive trauma to the head and torso, consistent with a violent physical assault.

She noted that while no single injury was fatal on its own, the cumulative impact of multiple blows, combined with potential submersion, likely led to his death.

“The cause of death was a combination of multiple blows rather than any single incident. Contrary to initial claims, drowning might also be a contributing factor,” Nkondo told the court.

These findings have bolstered the prosecution’s argument that Hitzeroth suffered a sustained assault before being submerged.

Accused maintain innocence

Shaun Walter Beaton, charged with murder, has claimed he acted in self-defence, while Bianca Jackson, accused of obstruction of justice and being an accessory to assault, has denied any role in concealing evidence.

She maintains she attempted to intervene during the alleged altercation.

Both defence teams submitted their final written arguments to the prosecution by the end of April, and the May hearing had been expected to mark a decisive stage in the trial.

Instead, delays linked to equipment failures and now the prosecutor’s medical absence have left the court and the families involved in limbo.

The matter is expected to resume after September 22.