Local News
GWStad murder trial: 'Surfing porn not irregular'─── SABRINA DEAN 18:33 Thu, 05 Jun 2014
Sabrina Dean
Kimberley - Court has remained in session after hours at the Northern Cape High Court in Kimberley where forensic psychiatrist Larissa Panieri-Peter was testifying in the Griekwastad murder trial.
A 17-year-old boy was earlier this year found guilty of the murders of Deon, Christel and Marthella Steenkamp on their farm Naauwhoek in April 2012. The minor was also convicted of one count of rape and defeating the ends of justice.
OFM News' Sabrina Dean is there and says it has been a long day of very intriguing, academic testimony, but despite this, Judge Frans Kgomo said he is willing to sit until late tonight if necessary to allow the Cape Town based psychiatrist to conclude her testimony.
State Advocate Hannes Cloete went through her report, page by page, creating a list of significant facts or factors. These range from the sharp decline in the boy’s school marks in the four months prior to the murders, to the nature of the crime, intensity of emotion or his attachment to horses.
She discounted visits to porn sights as raising red flags, saying she would expect to find that type of activity on any adolescent boy’s phone.
Asked about premeditation, she explained that psychiatrists view the concept very differently to the legal sense of the word.
Defence advocate Riaan Bode concluded his re-examination shortly before 18:00.
Panieri-Peter was excused.
Sabrina Dean:
