VEREENIGING – A man accused of murder after allegedly pouring petrol on his partner and setting her on fire is still recovering in the Sebokeng Hospital.

Stefan van Staden should have appeared in the regional court in Vereeniging last Tuesday for the alleged murder of Linell du Toit (42) who succumbed to her burn wounds on November 3. However, he could not attend the court proceedings.

Van Staden’s legal representative said the accused is still being treated in hospital.

He suffered burns to his arms during the incident.

Regional Magistrate Retha Willemse adjourned the case until November 20, when Van Staden will possibly be back on his feet.

The incident occurred on Saturday, October 26 around 17:30 at an apartment in Unie Street in the CBD, where Linell and Van Staden shared an apartment.

In video footage of the incident, one can see how a fire breaks out at the apartment and how a resident of the building then extinguishes the flames.

Linell suffered third to fourth-degree burns over 80% of her body and was in Sebokeng Hospital for a week.

In a video recorded before her death, she explains how Van Staden allegedly threw petrol over her and set her on fire.

She also said he told her to say it was an accident.

“It wasn’t an accident,” she said as she lay wincing from the pain and shock.

Several members of the community and residents of the apartment block where the accused and deceased lived were at the court for Van Staden’s appearance but will have to wait until later this month.