Moments after the man accused of raping and murdering six-year-old Stacey Adams made his third court appearance, her family revealed detectives are set to interview more people who can shed light on what happened on that fateful day.
As the suspect, Christopher Brown, 25, made his way into the dock at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court, he faced a courtroom packed with family and community members, including Stacey’s mother and his girlfriend, Sasha Lee Adams, 25, and her ouma.
Brown kept his head down and appeared stressed, repeatedly wiping his nose.
Sources reveal Brown was moered by inmates in the holding cells and was spotted wiping a bloody nose before he appeared in court.
The State said it would be opposing bail.
However, the application could not proceed as the new magistrate was not familiar with the matter.
The matter was then postponed to 16 August for a formal bail application.
Outside court, family, the community and members of the Community Policing Forum protested, calling for no bail.
Stacey’s uncle, Lyle Daniels, told the media the family has been informed that more people are being questioned about Stacey’s murder.
INFORMED: Uncle Lyle Daniels. VIDEO: Genevieve Serra
“The detectives spoke to us and said they want to interview more people and this is probably to get more evidence and confessions from people,” said Lyle.
“There were people who came after the incident took place, but who at that moment didn’t know what was happening and what he did.”
Lyle says they are still struggling to come to terms with Stacey’s violent death.
On Sunday, 24 June, Stacey’s half-naked body was found buried in a shallow grave next to Brown’s Wendy house in De La Rey Street in Eastridge.
Brown and Stacey’s mother, Sasha Lee, lived together while Stacey lived with her granny opposite the road.
Sasha Lee was not at home and Brown allegedly confessed that he was angry at the woman for going to a party on Friday night, and that he took his anger out on Stacey when she came looking for her mother on Saturday morning.
He allegedly confessed he had tried, but failed, to sodomise the child’s dead body.
Lyle says a heartbroken Sasha Lee, who last month said she blames herself for her daughter’s murder, has moved out of the area.
He says they want Brown’s Wendy house removed.
“We are hearing his family wants to move into the (Wendy) house where the incident happened and we are not happy with that because when we open our door, we look at that house,” said Lyle.
“Sasha Lee is not doing well, she is feeling it now and is living with her father and is receiving counselling.”
On the day of Brown’s arrest, the community tried to burn down his Wendy house and the main house, which belongs to his aunt.
His family has since been moved to a town outside Cape Town for their own safety.