Brandon Pretorius murder case: Beetge appears in court following co-accused death
The matter will resume on November 18.
Ruan Beetge, charged in connection with the death of Brandon Pretorius (27), made a brief appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on November 11.
His co-accused in the matter, Gordan Westraad (45), reportedly took his own life in his cell at Boksburg Correctional Services on September 26.
The matter was postponed to November 18 for Westraad’s death certificate to be presented and for both accused’s legal representatives to be in attendance.
Neither Beetge’s Legal Aid attorney nor Westraad’s representative was present in court.
Beetge (30) and Westraad had been charged with the murder of Pretorius following an alleged altercation that began at the Malbroer Pub and Grill on the evening of April 25.
Pretorius, the father of a one-year-old daughter, died in hospital several days later from his injuries.
The Advertiser previously reported that Westraad’s bail application was denied on August 12. Magistrate SD Prawlall ruled that Westraad had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify his release on bail.
On September 26, Westraad was reportedly found dead in his cell during the day. According to Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, the death was the result of a suicide by medication overdose.
“The correctional facility has practices in place to engage with the family when an inmate has died in custody. Any death case is also the subject of an investigation. Some details cannot be divulged to third parties but only to the family. In addition, some of the information can only be made available at the end of the investigation,” said Nxumalo.
Pretorius’s mother, Lisa Pretorius, said she wanted to hear what Westraad had to say.
“Nothing makes sense. He must’ve known something. He also knew who Brandon was. Westraad’s son attended school with Brandon’s brother, Julian,” she said.
Lisa added that each court appearance is still emotionally taxing for her.
“Every time before a court appearance, I struggle to sleep. I think about him and cry every day,” she said.
Also Read: Young father dies after assault
Also Read: Malbroer assault: It’s been a nightmare – Mother of slain son
