Steyn’s bail hearing postponed
Spectators mocked Steyn, saying "Shame" when she complained about not getting assistance from a nurse.
It was a restless day in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 8 December as family members and concerned followers of the Krugersdorp triple murder case waited in anticipation for Cecilia Steyn to make her way up the holding cell stairs to the court bench.
It was expected that she would take the stand at about 11.15am in the regional court, but the State called many other cases and she eventually appeared at noon.
The magistrate was already seated when Steyn, standing accused of murdering 11 people, appeared. Steyn remained seated during the entire court proceedings as it is alleged she has suffered from ill health since her arrest earlier this year.
Advocate Van Wyngaard, Steyn’s legal representative, presented an affidavit explaining why his client should be granted bail.
There was a slight hiccup in the court proceedings as Van Wyngaard said the affidavit was in Afrikaans and that he would present it in Afrikaans.
The magistrate pointed out that Steyn had said in her first appearance that she is entirely bilingual, therefore she should be able to present an affidavit in English. Nonetheless, Van Wyngaard continued to read the contents. The crowd of spectators gasped several times as the defendant tried to state her case for bail.
She pointed out three main reasons why the magistrate should release her on bail. First, she said the prison hospital she is currently being detained in, is incredibly dirty and poses a risk to her health. Since her arrest, Steyn has claimed that she has an immune deficiency disorder and is thus susceptible to illnesses.
The advocate used two statements from previous cases in which prisoners in the same hospital had complained about other incarcerated prisoners coughing blood, women giving birth without the assistance of nurses, and that they allegedly found worms in their food. These statements included a prisoner’s plea to the prison to clean up the hospital because, as he put it, “I’m scared to die in this place.” Steyn also expressed her concern about contracting tuberculosis in the hospital, as she was aware of prisoners suffering from this disease.
Her second reason was that it allegedly takes the prison about one to two hours to grant permission for her to be transported from Johannesburg to the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court, and then another one to two hours to drive to the court.
Thirdly, Steyn claims that she herself coughed up blood recently and there was no one to assist her. When she asked the nurse for assistance, the nurse allegedly said, “Shame”, and carried on with what she was doing.
As the advocate read these words some of the spectators in court mimicked the word “shame” in sarcastic tones. The magistrate glanced at them, before continuing to listen to the affidavit.
The conditions of Steyn’s bail, if granted:
Van Wyngaard said in the affidavit that if Steyn is granted bail, she will live with a relative in Westonaria. The relative has a house that belongs to Sibanye Gold Mine.
She will not be allowed to leave the house for any reason other than medical visits to a doctor. As she is not able to work, she will not leave the house for any other reason either.
She will also not be allowed any contact with the other accused.
Other conditions included regular police check-ups.
After the affidavit was read, the State asked the magistrate to adjourn the court proceeding for about 20 minutes. The magistrate granted the request and the court was adjourned. The media approached Steyn to take photos, but as soon as the first flash went off, Van Wyngaard instructed his client to turn her face away from the cameras.
When they were done speaking, Steyn grabbed her bag (that allegedly contains an oxygen tank) and quickly made her way down to the court’s holding cells.
After about 20 minutes the magistrate, advocates, and defendant returned and the hearing proceeded.
The State’s argument:
After the affidavit was read, the State attorney made her case by reading the charges Steyn is facing. She emphasised that the accused might have premeditated the murders of a pastor, the Meyer couple, a homeless man, Hanle Lategan, Kevin McAlpine, and Anthony Scholefield.
The State said Steyn’s DNA had been found on most of these scenes. The State said she is a threat to both the other accused and the person she is planning to live with if she is released on bail.
It is also alleged that Steyn’s husband employed a Nigerian hit-man to murder the investigating officer. The hit-man was allegedly offered R1 million to kill the officer.
The magistrate accepted both the affidavit and the counter-argument and postponed the judgment until 13 December.
Read more about the #TripleMurders:
Siblings arrested in connection with #TripleMurders
‘Please leave us to mourn in peace’ – Andre Lategan
Trial by Facebook? Suspects found guilty on social media
One arrested for triple murder
ID kits released in Meyer couple murder
