‘Springs monster’ heads to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital
The 37-year-old father of five dubbed 'the Springs monster' appeared in the Pretoria High Court yesterday (Monday).
According to Capt Johannes Ramphora, spokesman for the Springs SAPS, the man was referred to the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria for three days’ mental evaluation.
The accused and his wife will go on trial in the Pretoria High Court on November 17, facing 18 charges.
The charges include child abuse, the alleged attempted murder of their 11-year-old son, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, defeating the ends of justice and attempted murder and rape.
The man was arrested in May last year when the police came across the couple’s five children, aged between one and 16 years of age at the time, who were kept locked up in their Springs house for a number of years before the 11-year-old son escaped and sought help from the neighbours.
He has been denied bail and is being kept in custody in Modderbee Prison.
His wife, who was arrested almost a month after her husband, was granted bail in July and has been free since, awaiting her trial.
