Nearly six years after a fatal hit-and-run claimed the life of local businesswoman Letisia Niemann (38), the culpable homicide case against Johan Louwrens has reached its final arguments in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court. Judgment has been reserved until July 30.

During closing arguments on Thursday, June 19, the prosecutor emphasised that Louwrens had admitted to being in the area that night and did not dispute driving the vehicle in question.

Witnesses testified that the bakkie had a flat tyre consistent with Louwrens’ claim that he struck a ditch. However, the State argued that this detail aligned with the scene of the accident and not a separate incident, as the defence suggested.

The prosecution presented testimony from multiple eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen the bakkie strike Niemann.

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The victim’s husband Eben Niemann, who emotionally recounted knocking on the driver’s window, later identified Louwrens in court.

The State also introduced vehicle tracking data that placed the accused at the scene and referenced a confession in which Louwrens allegedly admitted to hitting a woman and fleeing because he was intoxicated.

The defence challenged the reliability of the evidence, pointing out inconsistencies in witness accounts, including claims that the vehicle had Gauteng plates, while Louwrens’ bakkie was registered in Mpumalanga.

They also questioned the visibility at the scene, citing tinted windows and a lack of street lighting, and disputed the credibility of the GPS data, arguing that the tracking expert lacked formal training in GPS technology.

Louwrens, who was 23 at the time of the incident, stands accused of fatally striking Niemann with his white Toyota Hilux bakkie on Loco Street, Mbombela, on the night of September 28, 2019.