The teenage boy accused of murdering Deveney Nel will appear in the Caledon Magistrates’ Court today, Cape {ttown} Etc reports.
Also read: Deveney Nel: Magistrate dismissed rape case despite warning of suspect’s risk
The 17-year-old was arrested two days after Nel’s body was discovered on 14 August in a store room on the Overberg High School’s premises. It was later determined that she suffered stab wounds to her neck and chest before her body was dragged into the store room.
The teenager has spent time in the courts before as he was accused of raping an 11-year-old girl in 2020. He also allegedly threatened to kill her after she revealed the assault. He was 13 years old at the time.
However, that case was dismissed from the roll last August despite a Valkenberg Hospital psychiatrist and clinical psychologist warning that he was ‘at high risk for reoffending [and] continuing to use physical violence’.
While the psychiatrist and clinical psychologist noted that the alleged teenaged rapist and murderer did not have criminal capacity at the time of the alleged assault due to his ‘cognitive weakness and moral and social immaturity’, they believed that he did pose a risk to himself and others around him.
The boy, who can not be named as per Section 154(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act as he is a minor, first appeared in court for the murder of Nel on 18 August. As reported by IOL, he was charged and the case was adjourned for further investigation.
Also read:
Minister welcomes arrest of teen suspect linked to murder of Deveney
Picture: Hoërskool Overberg / Facebook