Griekwastad murder trial resumes
The minor accused of mudering the the Steenkamp family on their farm in Griekwastad is back in court
The minor accused of mudering the the Steenkamp family on their farm in Griekwastad is back in court
The Northern Cape High Court will hear witness testimony on Wednesday in the trial of a 16-year-old accused of murdering three members of the Steenkamp family on their farm in Griekwastad.
The youth is accused of shooting dead farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christel, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, on the farm Naauwhoek on April 6, 2012.
He has pleaded not guilty. On Tuesday, investigator Colonel Dick De Waal testified that the youth helped the police, despite legal advice that he not point out anything. He was phoned twice by defence lawyers Willem Coetzee and Sharon Erasmus during the initial investigation of the attack.
On both occasions, he explained to the adults, in the presence of the youth, that he needed their help to do his investigation. The adults decided to override the legal advice and to allow the investigator to proceed.
De Waal said that during his second phone call, the youth talked to a lawyer himself, and was asked not to make any statements or to point out anything. Despite this, the youth complied with De Waal's request.
- Sapa