Video: Missing court transcripts delay Palm Ridge murder trial
Judgment in the murder and theft trial of an Alberton couple has been put on hold after crucial defence argument files went missing.
The case against the Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman and Delichia Bekker, returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on September 30, reports Alberton Record.
Schoeman and Bekker face charges including murder and theft. Bekker is accused of involvement in the death of her mother, Susan Gillian Murray, and was arrested days before Schoeman, who was caught hiding in South Hills.
Missing transcripts delay judgment
During court proceedings on September 30, it emerged that presiding magistrate Isabella Mlaba had not received some transcripts related to closing arguments by the accused’s defence lawyer.
“As I was going through my notes and preparing judgment, I realised that there are missing transcripts,” said Mlaba. “I cannot hand down judgment without those transcripts.”
Court transcripts are official, written word-for-word records of everything said during a court hearing or trial. These transcripts are generated from recordings of court microphones during proceedings.
Microphones record the presiding officer, prosecutor, and defence. In instances where there is witness testimony, the witness box also has a microphone that records testimony, which is transcribed into text.
After a short court adjournment, supporting staff indicated to the magistrate that the transcripts would not be ready during the day’s proceedings.
The court management team is handling the issue and is expected to make the transcripts available at the next court appearance.
The matter was postponed to October 7 for transcripts. Schoeman and Bekker remain in custody.
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Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
