PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The high-profile murder case involving Garden Route artist Bevan van Druten (53), which has attracted significant public attention, returned to the Plettenberg Bay District Court today, Wednesday 24 June.
The prominent murder case was covered extensively by Marguerite van Ginkel of the George Herald.
Van Druten stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend, Nicky van Heerden. Van Druten had previously abandoned his bail application and remains in custody pending the outcome of the matter.
The court confirmed that Van Druten has declined Legal Aid representation and has appointed Gqeberha attorney Adv Peter Daubermann to act on his behalf. Addressing the court, Daubermann raised concerns about the pace of the police investigation and requested that the court direct the State to provide the police docket to the defence.
Magistrate Steve Laurence, meanwhile, questioned the lengthy delay in downloading and processing cellphone records relevant to the investigation, saying that the accused has the right to a speedy trial.
The matter was postponed for further investigation and what is expected to be a final postponement.
The court heard that Van Druten is currently number 39 on the waiting list for psychiatric evaluation, with no bed yet available at Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town. The court was unable to indicate how long the wait for admission may be.
He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on 17 August.
According to an earlier statement by Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, Van Heerden’s body was discovered at Strandmeer Private Estate near the Keurbooms River at about 00:20 on Monday morning, 19 January.
Twigg said a murder case was registered after police responded to reports of a woman screaming and found Van Heerden’s body next to a vehicle. Medical personnel declared her dead at the scene.
Anneke ‘Nicky’ van Heerden, fondly known as ‘Alaska’. Photo: Alaska Runwithwolves Facebook page
Read previous articles:
- Plettenberg Bay murder accused Bevan van Druten a no-show as case postponed to July
- Additional charges added for Van Druten
- Van Druten case postponed: Name on Valkenberg waiting list
- Van Druten allegedly makes calls from prison ahead of court date
- Van Druten to undergo observation
- Court orders psychiatric evaluation for Van Druten, bail application withdrawn
- Van Druten’s bail hearing approaches: Uncertainty reigns outside court
- 4th court appearance for Van Druten as bail hearing ties up
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