Griekwastad Trial: Murder of the Steenkamp Family

[LazyLion]

The Kimberley High Court on Monday granted the media permission to cover the trial of the teenager accused of killing the Steenkamp family on their farm.

Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo allowed journalists from Media 24, Independent Newspapers, Central Media Group, SABC, and Sapa to be in court during the proceedings.

Cases involving minors are usually held in camera. The boy's trial was expected to start on Monday. He may not be identified.

The teenager was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14. They were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.


Source : Sapa /ag/fg/th/jje
Date : 11 Mar 2013 10:55

 

[LazyLion]

Boy (16) Pleads Not Guilty to Griekwastad Murders

A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm pleaded not guilty to three murder charges in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete put five charges to the boy one by one.

The boy pleaded not guilty to all. They include a charge of rape and one of defeating the ends of justice.

The State confirmed that a Child Court was in session, which was confirmed by the boy's lawyer, Willem Coetzee. He submitted there was no plea explanation.

Earlier, Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo allowed journalists from Media 24, Independent Newspapers, Central Media Group, SABC, and Sapa to be in court during the proceedings.

Cases involving minors are usually held in camera. The boy's trial was expected to start on Monday. He may not be identified.

The teenager was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14. They were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.


Source : Sapa /ag/fg/jje/th
Date : 11 Mar 2013 11:13

 

[LazyLion]

Graphic Pics in Northern Cape Murder Trial

The relatives of the Griekwastad farm murder victims were warned about graphic crime scene photos that could be shown in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete gave the warning during testimony by the State's first witness, in the trial of the 16-year-old boy accused of the triple murder. Crime scene expert Colonel Sietze Albertse explained new crime scene technology using a camera that could take 360 degree photographs. It is used with computer technology to reconstruct a crime scene in three dimensions.

Albertse explained that the software made it easier to get a whole picture of the crime scene, to better demonstrate it. Evidence gathered could be shown on a computer, television, or projected onto a screen.

The software allowed for evidence that had been photographed to be displayed.

It was at this point that the prosecutor brought it to the court's attention that graphic evidence might be shown.

Northern Cape Judge Frans Kgomo adjourned the court for a short while for the family to decide whether they wanted to be present or not.

The teenager was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14.

They were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.

The trial continues.


Source : Sapa /ag/hdw/jje/th
Date : 11 Mar 2013 12:19

 

[MickeyD]

Rape? Could that have been the cause of what happened later?

Sad days.

 

[blunomore]

Rape? Could that have been the cause of what happened later?

Sad days.

The theory was that he raped her and thereafter killed the family or something to that effect.

 

[blunomore]

Media reporting via twitter from inside courtroom: https://twitter.com/JacqueSteenkamp

 

[LazyLion]

Technology Questioned at Trial

The ability to manipulate a computer-generated three-dimensional model of the Griekwastad farm murder scene was raised in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

The State plans to use the model in its case against the 16-year-old boy accused of killing Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14.

Crime scene expert Colonel Sietze Albertse confirmed to the boy's lawyer, Willem Coetzee, that he compiled the model. The court heard it could be manipulated.

Albertse said he could put things in the model and take things away. He said the use of colour codes was to help the presenter explain aspects of the crime scene.

“The point is the evidence points on the crime scene stays the same.”

Earlier Albertse explained the new crime scene technology used a camera that could take 360 degree photographs. It was used with computer software to reconstruct a three-dimensional scene of a crime.

Albertse explained the software made it easier to get a whole picture of the scene, to better demonstrate it. Evidence gathered could be shown on a computer, television, or projected onto a screen. The software also allowed for evidence that had been photographed to be displayed.

Coetzee questioned Albertse's visit to the crime scene with the investigator and the prosecution in August last year, while the boy already had legal representation.

The Steenkamps were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.

The trial continues.


Source : Sapa /ag/tk/jje/th
Date : 11 Mar 2013 15:12

 

[blunomore]

The ability to manipulate a computer-generated three-dimensional model of the Griekwastad farm murder scene was raised in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

The State plans to use the model in its case against the 16-year-old boy accused of killing Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14.

Crime scene expert Colonel Sietze Albertse confirmed to the boy's lawyer, Willem Coetzee, that he compiled the model. The court heard it could be manipulated.

Albertse said he could put things in the model and take things away. He said the use of colour codes was to help the presenter explain aspects of the crime scene.

“The point is the evidence points on the crime scene stays the same.”

Earlier Albertse explained the new crime scene technology used a camera that could take 360 degree photographs. It was used with computer software to reconstruct a three-dimensional scene of a crime.

Albertse explained the software made it easier to get a whole picture of the scene, to better demonstrate it. Evidence gathered could be shown on a computer, television, or projected onto a screen. The software also allowed for evidence that had been photographed to be displayed.

Coetzee questioned Albertse's visit to the crime scene with the investigator and the prosecution in August last year, while the boy already had legal representation.

The Steenkamps were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.

The trial continues.


Source : Sapa /ag/tk/jje/th
Date : 11 Mar 2013 15:12

Amazing technology.

 

[D4N]

Are we allowed to name the suspect here?

 

[LazyLion]

Are we allowed to name the suspect here?

No. Not unless you would like a Charge of Contempt of Court?

He may not be identified.

 

[DJ...]

Are we allowed to name the suspect here?

If you're confident that it won't come back to you...

 

[Fudzy]

Wasn't it the son?

 

[MickeyD]

Wasn't it allegedly the son?

Allegedly yes.

 

[D4N]

If you're confident that it won't come back to you...

But seriously, will mybb get into trouble if the name is posted here, by a forumite?

 

[DJ...]

But seriously, will mybb get into trouble if the name is posted here, by a forumite?

No, mybroadband won't. On condition that they remove it once they are made aware of it...

 

[LazyLion]

Tests Done on Griekwastad Boy

Residue tests were done on a 16-year-old boy when he reported a triple murder on a Griekwastad farm, the Northern Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.

Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo was hearing evidence in the boy's murder trial.

He is accused of killing farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, on the farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on April 6, 2012.

Crime scene investigation unit commander Lieutenant Andre McAnda (SUBS: CORRECT) said he began collecting evidence at the Griekwastad police station, where the murders were reported.

He said he did so at the request of investigator Colonel Dick de Waal, who arrived with him at the police station.

McAnda said a primary residue test was done on the boy. A request was also made to collect other exhibits.

Referring to a photo album handed to the court, McAnda said all evidence under discussion was collected at the police station, where De Waal spoke to the boy.

At the police station, the investigators recorded vehicles, a firearm and six cartridges, a .22 rifle, a pair of shorts, and a maroon and green T-shirt. The court heard that a blood swab that was taken had gone missing.

McAnda said the investigator wanted the shorts because there was blood on them. He testified he did not immediately collect them, because the boy had a reasonable explanation for the blood.

"He helped the (girl) in the house."

Proceedings were delayed briefly by another media application to cover the case.


Source : Sapa /ag/hdw/th/dd
Date : 12 Mar 2013 12:11

 

[blunomore]

McAnda said the investigator wanted the shorts because there was blood on them. He testified he did not immediately collect them, because the boy had a reasonable explanation for the blood.

"He helped the (girl) in the house."

Huh?

 

[LazyLion]

Forensic Album Presented in Farm Murder Trial

A police photo album containing gruesome pictures of the victims of the 2012 Easter weekend Griekwastad farm killings was presented to the Northern Cape High Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete was leading the evidence-in-chief of Lieutenant Andre McAnda, forensic scene investigator, and the first forensic policeman on the scene.

A 16-year-old boy is accused of murdering Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14.

The album contains 146 photos taken on the crime scene on the night after the incident.

Part of the photo album indicates how the victims were found by the first policeman on the scene.

Farmer Deon Steenkamp was found on his stomach, as was his wife Christelle. Their daughter Marthella was found on her side, next to her mother.

The woman's clothes and the girl's neon-green shirt were blood-stained.

McAnda explained each photo in the album, including those of blood spatters at the back door of the Naauwhoek farm house.

He testified that, to limit contamination, all policeman on the scene wore personal protective equipment (PPE), also known as "moon suits", which covered them from head to toe.

The album also showed possible blood splatter on the tile floor of the kitchen, on a kitchen cupboard and on a black Telkom phone on the kitchen counter.

The phone handset was off the hook. There appeared to be blood smears on the phone and on the counter next to the phone.

When the court was shown photos of the victims' faces on a big screen in the courtroom, the boy averted his eyes.

McAnda testified that two cooldrink glasses were found on the ground outside the kitchen area. The kitchen's stable door was damaged.

The case continues.


Source : Sapa /ag/tk/clh/dd
Date : 12 Mar 2013 13:47

 

[blunomore]

I cannot imagine why he would have done what he did. What could possibly lead one to do such a thing considering his relationship to them?

 

[Fudzy]

I cannot imagine why he would have done what he did. What could possibly lead one to do such a thing considering his relationship to them?

Violent computer games. Calvinism. Who knows.