Durban — The 31-year-old alleged to have killed and cut off his grandmother’s head was back in Westville Prison after being admitted into a government psychiatric hospital for further evaluation last month.
Accused Thabo Ntokozo Nzimande told the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that he had returned from Fort Napier on 11 July.
Following his first appearance in court after his arrest Nzimande was taken to RK Khan Hospital for a preliminary psychiatric evaluation which found that he was currently unfit to stand trial and that he had a history of substance abuse which included rock, cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis.
Nzimande who is alleged to have decapitated Beatrice DeLange’s head and kicked it up and down with his feet like a soccer ball at their Pinetown home was not physically in court but appeared on a screen monitor from Westville Prison via the Audio Visual Remand (AVR) System.
Magistrate Wendalynn Robinson asked the accused whether any of his family had come to visit him in prison or if he had spoken to any of them. “When did you get back from Fort Napier? Are you taking any medication,” asked Robinson.
The accused who appeared relaxed held a conversation with the Magistrate sometimes referring to her ma’am.
“No family members have come to visit me here but I have previously spoken to my dad’s side of the family. I am on sleeping tablets but I have one left now,” Nzimande replied.
State Prosecutor Ehud-Jadon Francke asked that the matter be postponed to August for the further psychiatric evaluation of the accused.
Nzimande’s preliminary report from RK Khan Hospital found that he had Bipolar mood disorder as well as substance-induced psychotic disorder.
The accused in the report admits to auditory hallucinations and told the doctor that his brother is a known psychiatric patient on treatment.
Nzimande was found to have impaired judgment and poor insight.
According to police, the incident took place on Maurice Nicholas Road in Pinetown in the evening at around 9pm.
Police said that the suspect was found on the scene wearing bloodstained clothes, it was then discovered that the suspect had cut off his grandmother’s head with a bush knife.
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Daily News