Hillary: No closure yet for Roberts’ family

THE widely reported backlog with the state’s forensic and pathology departments and the mortuaries has resulted in Desmond Roberts’ murder investigation being put on hold and the family unable to have closure.

Also read: Police investigate Malvern father’s brutal murder

Roberts was murdered in his flat on New Year’s eve; his throat was slit and he was stabbed on either side of his chest.

According to Roberts’ mother, Anlie MacDonald, Malvern SAPS said they have handed over the case to the provincial detective commissioner and investigators are still waiting for DNA results and the post mortem to come back.

Malvern SAPS communications officer, WO Radhika Marimuthu, said the docket is still being investigated by Malvern SAPS but no further update is available.

MacDonald said due to the government departments delay, someone offered to sponsor a private autopsy, but she was told it will be useless as it won’t be recognised in the investigation.

Also read: Investigator’s mission to solve the Roberts’ murder

According to activist and member of The Medical Rights Advocacy Network, Mary de Haas, it is quite usual for there to be delays of this sort.

She said the forensic mortuary services in KwaZulu-Natal have been in a state of crisis for the past nine years with a huge backlog.

Brad Nathanson Investigations took on the case earlier this year with hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery and revealing the truth but unfortunately the investigations have been halted due to the backlog.

Shane Brits, operations manager for the PI company, confirmed the case is at a standstill as they are waiting for autopsy and pathology results.

He also said that a private pathology test will not have any weight (stand) in court.

But according to De Haas, any family is entitled to enlist the services of a pathologist in private practice to perform a second post mortem.

“However, the deceased was killed months ago and it would mean exhuming the body, which is traumatic and costly.”

“It is not true that the report of a private pathologist is not taken into account – it becomes part of the court record, whether for inquest or prosecution. It is fairly common for this to happen. If there are discrepancies in the findings of the two doctors (for remember that the person performing the initial post mortem may not even be a pathologist) that will be the subject of court examination and, if the private pathologist is a person who is experienced and highly regarded and the other doctor, even if a pathologist, is junior, his or her evidence may carry more weight,” De Haas added.

Shane also cleared that the State witness who left the country had made arrangements to do so for employment purposes, even before Roberts was murdered and it was not an attempt to escape.

The family has not been able to move on and find closure as the matter has not been put to rest.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts