BETHAL – Mr Francois Pretorius, the jeweller in Bethal who is facing charges for the double murder of Dr Hannes and Ms Ibel Beukes, appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 2 July and his case was postponed to 15 July.
Mr Pretorius appointed a new advocate and he was referred for psychiatric evaluation.
He will be seen by three doctors for observation as it was said in court that he had a family history of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).
This disease is an inherited disease of the blood vessels that occurs when the thickening of blood vessel walls blocks the flow of blood to the brain.
The disease primarily affects the small blood vessels in the white matter of the brain and is characterised by migraines and multiple strokes which can progress to dementia.
Other symptoms include white matter lesions throughout the brain, cognitive deterioration, seizures, vision problems and psychiatric problems such as severe depression and changes in behaviour and personality.
Mr Pretorius is accused of killing the Beukes-couple on 18 March inside a farm house he was renting outside of Bethal.
The couple’s bodies were found in the boot of their car on 18 March in a veld near Bethal Dam after a motorcyclist saw the suspicious car and contacted the police.
Mr Pretorius was arrested more than a week later on his father-in-law, Mr Ernst van der Berg’s farm outside Belfast.
He has been in custody since his arrest.
Also read: Quarrel about Jesus leads to double murder in Bethal
