MBOMBELA – The sentencing of Edwin Cruywagen who was found guilty of assaulting his wife with a hammer has been postponed to June 9. He appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court last Friday.
The postponement was due to the unexpected death of a family member of his defence. State prosecutor Mr Michael Mazibuko said he was also awaiting the correctional services’ report.
Ms Francis Hamqijk Cruywagen (53) was brutally assaulted with a hammer in 2011.
She had sustained such serious brain injuries that she was left blind and paralysed. However, she was fully aware of her surroundings and had regained her speech. As she was a Dutch citizen, she subsequently returned to Holland where she underwent psychological evaluation and was deemed fit to receive a lethal injection.
Francis owned Gecko Bushbackpackers in Hazyview and married Edwin in October 2004.
Her friends stated that they had received a phone call from Edwin’s brother-in-law at about 03:30 on June 21, 2011, informing them that Francis had been attacked by Edwin.
She was in a critical condition and was on her way to Mediclinic Nelspruit.
“We informed her family in Holland and drove to the hospital immediately. She was in a bad state, with a bruise around her neck and blood under her nails from fighting back. She had a lot of other bruises and scratches,” the friends said.
Francis was in a coma for two months before she was transferred to Macadamia Clinic where she received 24-hour care. She was like a baby trapped in an adult’s body, but she was lucid.
When she realised that she would need 24-hour assistance for the rest of her life – blind and unable to walk or use her hands – she asked her family to take her to Holland for euthanasia.
Her money and medical aid had also run out. “She died bitter and was angry at Africa and all of us who live in it.”
