BETHAL – The jeweller of Bethal, Mr Francois Pretorius, accused of the double murder of Dr Hannes and Ms Ibel Beukes, appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 4 August. His case was postponed to Tuesday, 8 September. During a previous court appearance, it was said that Mr Pretorius suffered from cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). He allegedly also had a family history of this condition. Three doctors would have observed and evaluated him and during his previous court appearance he was still waiting for a date to be evaluated. 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 in 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: https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/158647/beukes-couple-killed-suspects-house-farm-outside-bethal/
