Johan Louwrens’s trial continued in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on January 19.
Louwrens faces charges of culpable homicide, among others. He is accused of being the driver in the hit-and-run incident that resulted in Letisia Niemann’s death.
On September 28, 2019, Letisia (38) and her husband, Eben, were walking home from the local pub, Mustangs – The Dancing Place, when a bakkie struck her outside the pub’s entrance at about 23:00. The bakkie driver fled the scene, and Letisia was treated on-site by Emer-G-Med before being transported to Kiaat Private Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries hours later.
Also read: Key testimony in Mbombela trial for 2019 hit-and-run case
State Prosecutor Leana Jones called Jaco Swart, Mustangs’ owner, to the witness stand. His evidence focused on the camera footage captured outside his premises, which he had provided to Albert Gryvenstein of Bossies Community Justice after the incident. Gryvenstein had previously testified in court.
During cross-examination, Eric Mashele, Louwrens’s Legal Aid attorney, challenged Swart’s testimony, suggesting that he did not positively identify the accused as the perpetrator.
Subsequently, Willem Koch, a close friend of Letisia’s and a witness to the incident, took the stand. He testified that he was walking home with Letisia and Eben when a white Toyota Hilux bakkie struck Letisia, and then reversed over her.
The state applied for a postponement, citing difficulty locating one witness and the inability of another to attend the proceedings.
Mashele opposed the postponement, emphasising the financial strain on his client due to the ongoing trial. He explained that Louwrens had sold his vehicle and struggles to secure employment as his bail conditions prohibits him leaving the jurisdiction of the court.
Also read: Hit-and-run accused is granted bail
Despite the accused’s opposition, the court, noting prior instances of condoning postponements, deemed it was in the interest of justice to postpone the trial to March 1.
Letisia’s sister, Lizel Boshoff, and her husband, Gerhard, who attended the proceedings, expressed their commitment to be present that day.
