SECUNDA – Mr Justin Smith, a businessman from Secunda, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of his wife, Bianca, on 6 June.
He appeared in the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The couple was living in Munchen Street, Secunda, at the time of Ms Smith’s death.
The couple was alone at home that day. Mr Smith claimed that he found his wife’s body on the floor next to the bed in their room.
A post-mortem by the district surgeon indicated signs of asphyxiation consistent with that of being strangled.
When the police began questioning Ms Smith’s death, her family called for a second opinion from a renowned pathologist, Dr Patricia Klepp.
Mr Smith in the meantime relocated to Hartebeespoort where he is involved with his family’s businesses.
The police arrested Mr Smith on Thursday when he visited the Secunda Police Station for an interview with the investigating officer.
He spent the night in the Secunda Police Station’s holding cells and was taken to the court the next day.
He could not be released on bail before his new address in Hartebeespoort has been confirmed.
Adv Jacques Pienaar on behalf of Mr Smith, told Magistrate Faith Kekana that Dr Klepp in her report said she was convinced that cardiac arrhythmia was the cause of death.
Adv Pienaar said Mr Smith suffers from sleep apnoea and he needs a CPAP-machine specifically designed for his oxygen needs at night.
They were concerned that the holding cells were not equipped with electrical plug sockets into which the machine can be plugged.
Mr Smith’s father drove to Hartebeespoort to collect the machine while the case was heard.
The eventual outcome was that Mr Smith would be taken to hospital at Bethal Prison until he can apply for bail on Wednesday, 28 October.
Mr Smith’s legal team alleges, and is adamant to prove that based on Dr Klepp’s findings, a grave injustice is being done against their client.
