The trial against Shakoor Roberts has been delayed once again and is expected to only continue in 2020, five years after he allegedly murdered his mother, Gafsa Roberts, 61.
Roberts made a brief appearance at the Mitchells Plain Regional Court on Wednesday where he heard the State prosecutor, Darren Johnson, needed additional time to read through the court records and notes which include all the witnesses testimonies.
Johnson indicated he did not think he would be done in time for the trial to continue this year.
He also had to consult with several witnesses.
“I don’t know if we will get to it this year still and there is the outcome of consultation (to take into consideration),” he said.
ON TRIAL: Roberts, 27
Magistrate Mary Jacuw appealed to the family and witnesses to understand Johnson’s dilemma, as he is the only prosecutor currently on duty at the courtroom and did not have enough time to read through all the notes.
She said the other prosecutor, who is ill, will be back in two weeks’ time.
“We will postpone provisionally for 4 December.”
The trial was also placed on halt when evidence was led by State witness Jamia Daniels earlier this year, who testified that she had made a recording of Roberts confessing to his mother’s murder.
Roberts, 27, allegedly strangled Gafsa to death on 27 February 2015, washed her body and hid it in their wheelie bin.
On 2 March 2015, a neighbour found Gafsa’s body in the bin at her home in Tafelsig.