The case against the Mitchells Plain woman accused of stabbing her husband to death has been withdrawn.
The 51-year-old woman was arrested at the couple’s Rocklands home on Saturday shortly after her husband, George Hendricks, 64, was stabbed in the leg and bled to death.
But yesterday, as his family expected to see Catherine “Rhona” Hendricks to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court, it was discovered that the charge had been withdrawn.
Her name appeared on the withdrawal charges sheet and she did not appear in court.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Eric Ntabazalila couldn’t give an explanations, saying he was still waiting for information from the court.
The Daily Voice tried to contact Catherine yesterday, but she did not return calls.
Outside court, George’s five children said they were devastated to hear Catherine had been let go.
“How is it possible that this woman is set free and the case withdrawn when she admitted to stabbing my father, and the murder weapon (a knife) was found at the scene?” asks his eldest daughter Melissa Croza, 40. “She never hid what she did so why let her go?”
Another relative says according to the detective, the case is only temporarily withdrawn.
“We are told that the case was withdrawn today due to a docket not completed, they are also waiting for an autopsy report.”
The relative says it’s possible that the charge won’t be murder, but culpable homicide.
“They explained that he was stabbed in the leg and not a vital organ, and that if he had been stabbed on his upper body, that would be intention to kill.”
Police spokesman Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed on Sunday that George’s wife had been arrested for his death following a domestic violence incident at their home.