The murder case against Garden Route artist Bevan van Druten (53) returned to the Plettenberg Bay District Court yesterday (June 24), where concerns were raised about delays in the police investigation and the slow processing of key cellphone evidence, reports Mossel Bay Advertiser.

Van Druten stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend, Nicky van Heerden. He previously abandoned his bail application and remains in custody pending the finalisation of the matter.

The court confirmed that Van Druten has declined Legal Aid representation and has appointed Gqeberha-based attorney Adv Peter Daubermann to act on his behalf.

The prominent murder case was covered extensively by Marguerite van Ginkel of the George Herald.

Addressing the court, Daubermann raised concerns about the pace of the police investigation and requested that the court direct the State to provide the police docket to the defence.

Magistrate Steve Laurence also questioned the lengthy delay in obtaining and processing cellphone records relevant to the case, noting that an accused person has the constitutional right to a speedy trial.

The matter was postponed allowing for further investigation, with the next appearance expected to be the final postponement before the case proceeds.

The court heard that Van Druten is currently 39th on the waiting list for psychiatric evaluation, with no bed yet available at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town. The court was unable to provide an indication of when he may be admitted.

Van Druten was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again on August 17

According to an earlier statement by Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, Van Heerden’s body was discovered at Strandmeer Private Estate near the Keurbooms River at around 00:20 on Monday (January 19).

Twigg said a murder case was registered after police responded to reports of a woman screaming and found Van Heerden’s body next to a vehicle.

Medical personnel declared her dead on the scene.

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