FOLLOW-UP: Defence requests postponement in Pheiffer case

At the request of his defence attorney, Daniel Schoeman, the trial against Christian (Mike) Pheiffer was again postponed.

The attempted murder trial against Pheiffer was supposed to continue in the Benoni Regional Court on June 20.

Schoeman requested a postponement until July 31, stating he intends to submit an application to the High Court to gain access to personal notes taken by medical professionals at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital.

Pheiffer, who stands accused of attacking his then-wife with an axe at their Farrarmere home on September 23, 2021, was admitted to the hospital for an independent psychiatric evaluation last year.

At the time, his attorney claimed that Pheiffer was suffering from amnesia and could not recall the details of the alleged incident.

On May 12, following the testimony of a psychiatrist assigned to Pheiffer during the evaluation period, Schoeman requested that an order be submitted to the hospital to make the entirety of Pheiffer’s clinical records available to the court.

Magistrate Ian Cox granted the order. However, he ruled that all personal notes made by medical professionals must be excluded.

During the recent court sitting, Cox told the defence that his ruling on the matter stands but that he will grant Schoeman the opportunity to approach a higher court.

Pheiffer’s bail conditions were again extended. He was released on R10 000 bail in 2023.

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