Chevonne Rusch Murder: Sentencing delayed due to outstanding pre-sentencing reports
A murder case was opened after Chevonne was taken to the Wannenburg Clinic in Primrose.
The presentencing of murderers Stefan van Niekerk and Rochelle Botha was reportedly postponed to the second week of March.
Botha and Van Niekerk were meant to appear in the Johannesburg High Court on February 2.
They were found guilty of the murder of two-year-old Chevonne Rusch in the Johannesburg High Court on November 17.
Chevonne was Botha’s daughter.
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Last year, civil rights organisation Action Society announced that “Both were also found guilty of rape, involving another minor child.
“They were convicted of various other charges as well, including attempted murder, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect.”
Although confirmation is needed from the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to confirm why the case was reportedly postponed, it would appear the presentencing reports were not ready.
In May 2022, Bedfordview and Edenvale News/Germiston City News reported that a murder case was opened after Chevonne was taken to the Wannenburg Clinic in Primrose.
Bedfordview SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Lillian Modiga previously told the publication that Primrose police officers were called to the clinic shortly after 13:00 on May 11, 2022.
“When officers arrived, nurses showed them a child who was brought in by a man believed to be the child’s stepfather.
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“The child was wrapped in a blanket and had blood in her mouth and bruises all over her body. She also had a wound on the back of her head,” said Modiga at the time.
The police opened a murder docket because of the child’s injuries.
The case was originally heard at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court, where Botha and Van Niekerk abandoned their bail applications in September 2022.
After proceedings at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court, the case was transferred almost a year ago to the Johannesburg High Court.
A pathologist assigned to the case told the court that Chevonne’s body was covered with 49 bruises.
ALSO READ: Chevonne Rusch’s murder case postponed to March
Ian Cameron, the director of community safety at Action Society, said, “This case makes it clear. If you neglect to report abuse or fail to protect or aid an abused child, you are just as guilty as the one who committed the act of violence.”
“Nothing will bring Chevonne back. We will never know if she ever felt safe in her short life.”
Following the murder, community members from Edenvale, Germiston, Bedfordview and Klopperpark voiced their anger over Chevonne’s death.
A request for comment was sent to the NPA on February 2, requesting comment by February 5 at 10:00.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.
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