'Whites won't give me fair trial'

2008-06-20 09:43

Leon-Ben Lamprecht

Cape Town - In a dramatic turn of events in the Bellville regional court on Thursday, Cheslyn Williams asked that the murder charge against him be referred to another court because he didn't think he would receive a fair hearing before three white people.

Williams, the former boyfriend of the Idols winner Karin Kortjé, furthermore ended the mandate of his legal representative, Advocate Charles Simon.

Williams is on trial for the murder of Renate Kellerman, 39, who owned the Le Petit Chateau guesthouse in Durbanville.

Simon, a private lawyer who was appointed by the Legal Aid Council, told regional Magistrate Johann Vermaak at the start of the court proceedings that his client requested that the case against him be referred to a different court.

Simon said the accused was of the opinion that he would not have a fair hearing if the investigating officer, the state prosecutor and magistrate were "three white people".

Running out of patience

He also said his client knew that the court was "running out of patience with him" and the court was therefore not able to be objective in the case against him.

Simon then told the court that he and the accused had discussed the issue and that Williams had decided to end his mandate.

"The accused would like to have further legal aid in future."

Prosecutor Herculine Swart said the State would object against postponement to seek legal council because it was not the first time that Williams had requested such a postponement.

"The case has been on the role for over two years."

Swart said she would prefer the accused having a legal representative, but the "court cannot keep bending over backwards".

She added that she did not think there was any reason for herself, Vermaak or the investigating officer to withdraw from the case.

She mentioned that the two assessors in the case were not white.

Court 'fair'

Vermaak also said he believed the court was fair.

As far as the court's patience was concerned, he said that it was time the case made progress.

"There were various postponements and delays and that can only be blamed on one person: yourself (Williams)."

Vermaak rejected Williams's application for withdrawal from the court and said it did not have any merit.

The hearing was postponed until February 9 next year.

Kortjé said she was unhappy about the further postponement because "it puts a hold on my life" but she accepted the court's decision.

- Die Burger