Judge Ellem Jacob Francis asked Rosalind McNab, the psychologist testifying about Marcel Steyn, if Marcel could be trying to play the system. She said that she believes Marcel is truly remorseful and came clean in the true sense of the word.
When asked if Marcel’s tears while testifying could be seen as remorse, McNab said, “Definitely”, especially because she knew Mikaela Valentine. She did not know the other victims.
When asked if she was remorseful towards the families in court during her testimony, McNab said she saw a lot of faking in the testimonies given during the trial, but not with Marcel.
Today’s pre-sentencing proceedings Part 1:
#KrugersdorpMurders – Steyn children’s dad had enough and said their mother could take them
The State Prosecutor said that Marcel’s defence was based on compulsion, but McNab’s report appears to show that it was fear – fear of her mother and Cecilia. He asked how this difference could be explained.
“The report is based on a psychological evaluation,” said McNab.
State Prosecutor, Gerrit Roberts, put it to McNab that Marcel only once showed emotion while testifying.
McNab said that when interviewed, Marcel gave answers in a matter of fact way. The experience was traumatic for her and she dealt with it in ways that would help her cope. But McNab agreed that Marcel was unemotional.
Roberts said what he could not understand was that the Steyn children were not allowed to watch the Harry Potter movies, but they were forced to watch Satanic movies. McNab replied that this was part of the brainwashing they were subjected to.
Today’s pre-sentencing proceedings Part 2:
#KrugersdorpMurders – Psychologist details Marcel’s sad and disturbing upbringing
Roberts asked if Marcel saw where the trial was going after Cecilia had testified, and used her ‘telling the truth’ to try and help her in the long run. Although Marcel admitted to the crimes she said she was forced. Roberts said that the reason given in the report was being belittled and fear, and stated that that is not a good enough excuse to commit murder.
McNab explained that Marcel murdered because she was controlled, and not just ridiculed. She would have stayed at school for hours because she would hate going home and being part of planning the murders. She was under the influence of Cecilia and her mother, and was told to do these things.
Roberts asked if McNab’s report was not perhaps based on a lot of interpretation. He asked if she was aware that another psychologist was also approached for a report.
He wanted to ask McNab to respond to the other report, which had been provided by the Defence, but neither the witness nor the report were used.
Today’s pre-sentencing proceedings Part 3:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/387346/krugersdorpmurders-psychologist-believes-marcel-can-reintegrate-society/
Roberts asked McNab about remorse, as she had also dealt with it in her report.
The other psychologist’s report touched on the idea of remorse and said the accused stated that although her brain told her what she did was wrong, she tried not to get emotional about it because if she let her emotions take over she might not be able to handle it. According to the accused, she tried to show emotion in court. Her mother never allowed her to show emotion because that meant she was weak.
The report went on to state that Marcel did not express sincere remorse and that could be because she was never shown what true remorse looks like – she only knew fear.
Further, the second report stated that Marcel felt emotions towards the victims because they were taken from their families, but felt no emotion about the crimes. Marcel also said that she looks forward to walking outside and seeing the stars again.
McNab said the second report was written by a social worker with the added advantage of knowing the law, but was not a psychologist.
Roberts asked whether McNab thought Marcel was addicted to drugs. She said Marcel was addicted, but even her marijuana smoking now is an addiction. Marcel did not use drugs during the time of her matric exams because she was afraid they would test her.
Roberts said that this made him think that Marcel is a meticulous planner.
McNab said she agreed – Marcel did think things through, but she did not always have the last say.
When asked if there was compelling evidence that the minimum sentence should not be imposed McNab stated that she thought the fact that Marcel had had the childhood she did have and was exposed to Satanism and cult group activity from the age of 10, provided a lot of compelling evidence.
McNab said Cecilia is a pathological liar, master manipulator and a good actress and had used that to manipulate Marcel. She went on to say Marcel was forced to watch movies about Satanism and that Marcel had said she actually saw Cecilia’s teeth grow.
Seeing all these things as a child would have been traumatic, according to McNab.
McNab then started talking about Cecilia and her childhood, and how she was rebellious even as a small girl.
Judge Francis asked her where she got this information from as he could not remember testimony stating that.
“At one stage I was asked by Carte Blanche to give my opinion about Cecilia and her formative years. That is where I got the information about Cecilia’s childhood,” said McNab.
The judge said that he would like to divorce the hearing from what happened in the media as he does not read or watch any news regarding the case.
Roberts then asked Macnab about the period of two years before the double murder. He wanted to know what happened during that time.
McNab said that the time when they did not commit murders doesn’t mean that the influence of the cult group did not affect Marcel. Although she would have matured, she would not have made independent decisions.
Court adjourned until Thursday, 15 August for closing arguments.
