The man dubbed the #NewYear’sEve killer appeared in the Johannesburg High Court for the first time on Friday, 11 May. The case was, however, postponed to Monday, 29 October 2018.
Danél Rooskrans, 25, his ex-girlfriend, was brutally murdered at a house on Venus Street in Toekomsrus on New Year’s Eve. She was the mother of a toddler and a baby.
Detective Warrant Officer Rupert van Zyl was assigned to the case and he told the Herald that investigations have been completed. The autopsy report has been finalised and handed in. It is uncertain whether the suspect will apply for legal aid or has appointed an advocate to represent him.
Also read: New Year’s Eve killer fit for trial
On the suspect’s last appearance in the Randfontein Regional Court on 25 April – his third since being found fit to stand trial after a psychiatric assessment at Sterkfontein Hospital last month – it was revealed that he had allegedly also raped Rooskrans.
It was an emotional day for Rooskrans’ family, as it was the first time some of them heard that Rooskrans had also been raped.
The presiding judge was Regional State Prosecutor Etienne van Niekerk, and Nita Barnard, the State Prosecutor, appeared on behalf of the State. Advocate Amanda Nel, the ex-boyfriend’s legal representative at the time, was once again absent, as she had other cases to attend.
The charges against the accused are murder, rape and defeating the ends of justice. The accused remains imprisoned and was moved to the Johannesburg Correctional Services (Sun City) where he still remains.
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