The man who hacked his mother to death and seriously injured his brother with a panga will be going for psychiatric assessments before his next court appearance early next year.
According to provincial police spokesman, Brig Selvy Mohlala, the suspect (25) appeared in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on December 11 on charges of murder and attempted murder but the case was postphoned in order to assess the accused’s mental health.
The man reportedly accused his brother (18) and mother (55) of bewitching him before attacking them in a fit of rage in Madras Village, Mariti, Bushbuckridge on December 6. Police arrived at the scene to find that the woman had been hacked to death and the young man had multiple stab wounds. The suspect was arrested and his brother rushed to hospital for treatment.
Acting provincial commissioner, Maj Gen Meshack Nogwanya expressed his concern regarding the incident and told families to work together to solve issues or seek professional help, rather than attacking each other.
