Heart condition prevents accused from attending court proceedings

MBOMBELA – The case of culpable homicide against Mr Charles Loram (59) has been postponed for six months pending the availability of a donor for the heart transplant he requires before he can stand trial.

Lowvelder previously reported that Loram stands accused of killing Mr Micheal Stenger during a robbery at his business, Sound Systems, on January 21, 2012. When Loram was due to appear in the Nelspruit Regional Court on December 4, 2013, defence attorney Mr Coert Jordaan informed the court that his client was terminally ill. He explained that Loram suffers from congestive cardiac failure, caused by an enlarged heart with poor muscle use. This was confirmed by Dr Louis Heartly on December 2, 2013.

Loram was scheduled to appear in the Nelspruit Regional Court again on Friday, but Jordaan provided the court with medical documents proving that his condition had deteriorated. Loram, who is also a diabetic, is scheduled for a heart transplant at the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town. The hospital has confirmed that he will be flown to Cape Town for an immediate transplant as soon as a heart becomes available.

Jordaan requested that the case be postponed until a clear report on Loram’s health is available, as the accused is physically unable to stand trial. Due to the seriousness of the charge against him, the Department of Public Prosecution has indicated that it cannot withdraw the charges. However, the court postponed the case and magistrate Ms Venessa Joubert said that “hopefully Loram will receive a heart transplant within six months”. The case was postponed to June 26.