Chevonne Rusch’s murder case postponed to March
The Johannesburg High Court Case was postponed on February 3 to allow the accused to obtain legal representation.
The murder case of Chevonne Rusch was postponed in the Johannesburg High Court on February 3 to allow the accused to obtain legal representation.
ALSO READ: Murder case of Chevonne Rusch moves to High Court
The accused had legal representation when their case was heard at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court, but the pair now need new representation with the matter moving to the High Court.
Accused number one, Cornelius Stefan van Niekerk, and accused number two, Rochelle Botha, the mother of the dead two-year-old, face eight counts, including rape, murder, and sexual assault, among others.
The transfer of the case was announced at Germiston’s D Court on January 19.
During the January proceedings, Van Niekerk and Botha said they would continue using legal aid for their representation.
They elected Afrikaans as their language of interpretation. Van Niekerk submitted a list of two witnesses to call on during the trial, while Botha submitted the names of four witnesses.
ALSO READ: Chevonne Rusch: Murder case postponed to January 2023
The matter was on the roll at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court for indictment and was previously postponed last November.
In May, the NEWS reported that a case of murder was opened after the dead child was taken to Wannenburg Clinic in Primrose.
It was reported that she was murdered on May 11.
Bedfordview SAPS Spokesperson Sergeant Lillian Modiga said Primrose police officers were called to the clinic soon after the child arrived.
“When officers arrived, nurses showed them a child brought in by a man believed to be the child’s stepfather.
“The child was wrapped in a blanket and had blood in her mouth and bruises all over her body.
“The child also had a wound on the back of her head,” she said.
ALSO READ: Chevonne Rusch murder – case postponed to allow for indictment preparations
Modiga said that because of the injuries, a murder docket was opened.
The latest court proceedings marked Van Niekerk’s seventh court appearance and Botha’s sixth.
They face charges of trafficking a person, sexual assault, rape, child abuse, attempted murder, and murder.
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