NELSPRUIT – A man who assaulted his wife so severely that she sustained serious brain damage and opted for euthanasia in Europe, has been found guilty of attempted murder.
Edwin Cruywagen appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court yesterday where the magistrate, Ms Shelly Msibi found him guilty of the attack on
Ms Francis Hamwijk Cruywagen (53) at Gecko Bushpack Backpackers on June 21, 2011.
Edwin, nicknamed Crow, is well known as a singer at local pubs and open-mic evenings in the city.
Msibi stated that, although the state had only two witnesses, and none had seen the actual crime being committed, it had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Edwin was the one who had attacked his wife with a hammer.
The magistrate said on the night in question nobody else could have entered the property due to the vicious dogs and police had not found any evidence of a robbery. “Police had only found a broken hammer and a lot of blood on the scene that night.”
Msibi said Mr Patrick Herbst, a friend of Edwin, had testified that the husband had come to him that night and confessed, “I think I just killed Francis.” Mr George Mohlala, a security guard who performed duty at Gecko that night, also testified that the next day Edwin had told him “If you have a gun, I want you to shoot me for what I have done to my wife.”
Msibi said, “This is admissible as both witnesses were not police officials investigating the case and Herbst had also stated it was difficult for him to tell the court as Edwin was his friend.”
Francis sustained serious brain injuries and was left blind and paralysed after the attack.
However, she was fully aware of her surroundings and regained her speech.
As she was a Dutch citizen, she returned to Holland where she requested euthanasia. She underwent a psychological evaluation and was deemed fit to receive a lethal injection a year later.
State prosecutor, Mr Michael Mazibuko requested the court to revoke Edwin’s bail due to him failing to appear in court twice before.
Msibi then ordered that he be taken into custody until sentencing on May 9.
