Murder suspect Herman Pienaar’s lawyer yesterday requested the court to have him mentally examined to determine if he should be sent for psychiatric evaluation.
Pienaar (35) and his co-accused, Clinton White (30), appeared in the court of the Kgosi Mampuru II jail on Wednesday. The two have been accused of murdering Herman Sr (58) and Christine (49) Pienaar in their home in Valhalla three weeks ago. Police spokesperson, Captain Agnes Huma, said Pienaar’s co-accused was granted R5 000 bail.
Pienaar, who is the son of the deceased couple, was arrested in Boksburg after he allegedly disappeared after the incident. His friend was also arrested for possession of a stolen car which the police believe belonged to the deceased, unlicensed firearms, television sets and a computer.
Huma said the two bodies were found lying in a study by a domestic worker in the morning when she reported for duty at around 7:10.
She said the domestic worker suspected something was wrong when she rang the buzzer for a long time and no one answered. Huma said when the neighbour realised the helper had been standing at the gate for a long time, he opened it as both gates were linked. “In the house the helper found everything upside down and when she called their names no one answered. She then went into every room and first found the body of a woman lying on the floor in the study. Shocked, she ran out to inform the neighbour, and then saw the husband’s body, also in the study. The two accused will appear in court again on 8 May.
