Sentencing for self-confessed killer Rafiek Hayners was delayed on Wednesday after he told the court he cannot afford his lawyer anymore.
Hayners’ counsel, Advocate Adrian Samuels, dropped a bombshell at the Wynberg Regional Court, saying his client could no longer afford his
services.
“Mr Hayners has given an instruction that they cannot afford counsel. He has
appointed Leon van der Merwe,” said Samuels.
The Magistrate asked Hayners where his new lawyer was, but he said he did not know.
The matter was postponed to March 16 for his new lawyer to attend proceedings.
This comes just weeks after Magistrate Khaleed Parker transferred the matter to the Regional Court in order for Hayners to get a
harsher sentence.
Parker said Hayners had “driven like the devil was chasing him” and the three years for a count of culpable homicide that his court was able to give would be too lenient.
SENTENCING: Rafiek Hayners can’t afford lawyer
At the Regional Court, which adjudicates over more serious matters, Hayners could face between 15 and 20 years behind bars for culpable homicide.Hayners had been driving 100 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on 27 September 2018 when he jumped a red robot at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Strandfontein Road, and rammed into Shaylynn Arendse, six, and her nanny Maureen Abrahams, 61, who had been standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross the busy road.
Hayners fled the scene and cops later found the vehicle abandoned at the home of a relative in Hanover Park.
DEAD: Shaylynn
Hayners handed himself over to cops days later and was granted R1000 bail.
Last year he later pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable homicide.
While out on bail, Hayners was bust in November 2018 by the Hawks at a storage facility in Somerset West with drugs worth R8.9 million, for which he is also currently on trial.