The two men accused of bludgeoning Zarah-Jane Hector to death with a hammer will get their day in court soon.
Yesterday, the Kuils River mother of two’s murder trial was moved to the Western Cape High Court, set to start on October 28, much to the relief of her family.
The 33-year-old woman went missing on March 15 this year, and after 10 days, her body was found in a shallow grave on a farm in Klein Drakenstein.
Yesterday at the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court, murder accused Ronaldo van Rooyen, 34, and Tawfeeq Ebrahim, 26, appeared via Audio Visual Remand (AVR) from Pollsmoor Prison.
The two had signed the 11-page indictment document, and assured the Magistrate they understood the contents thereof.
Prosecutors will try to prove that Zarah was killed in Van Rooyen’s garage at his Sarepta, Kuils River, home, reportedly over a R5 000 debt.
It is believed the trial will be a drawn-out saga, with 48 state witnesses in total.
ACCUSED: Ronaldo van Rooyen (back) and Tawfeeq Ibrahim
After the document was signed, defence lawyer Patrick Vezasie shocked the court when he said he will not be representing Ebrahim at his trial.
“The family are no longer able to afford an attorney and I am requesting a Legal Aid Attorney to be assigned to him. I will assist them in the processing, but will not represent Ebrahim at the High Court,” he said.
Zarah’s family, including her father and brother, told the Daily Voice they are relieved that the trial has finally been moved to the High Court.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time. At least now we know justice is coming for my sister. It seems as if the defence teams have done all they can to delay justice for my sister. We will have our day in court and they will receive their punishment,” said brother Brendan Hector.