Teen Charged with Murder Transferred to Valkenberg Facility
It has been a year since the heartbreaking and violent murder of 16-year-old Deveney Nel, a Grade 10 student hailing from Grabouw.
The trial of the 17-year-old suspect charged with her murder has once again been postponed, now set for February 27.
The accused, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his age, was not in attendance at court on January 27, as he is currently undergoing a 30-day psychiatric assessment at Valkenberg.
Deveney’s remains were discovered in the storage room of Hoërskool Overberg on January 24, 2024, after her mother reported her missing when she did not return home following the school’s sports day.
It is reported that the suspect, who was acquainted with Deveney, fatally stabbed her during the event. Shortly after her body was uncovered, police from the Serious and Violent Crime Unit apprehended the teenager.
Tania Bippert, a community activist and member of One Billion Rising SA, has been closely monitoring the situation and expressed her annoyance regarding the continuous delays.
In a statement to the public, she recognized the growing frustration but emphasized the necessity of handling the case with diligence and precision.
Bippert shared: “By February 27, we do not anticipate that the evaluation report will be ready for court, as it will be his last day at Valkenberg.”
“I want to communicate to the community and the public that I understand the widespread frustration.
“Everyone feels that this case is taking an overwhelming amount of time to reach trial. However, we must remember that we need the investigators and the prosecution to ensure that every detail is meticulously checked so that the case cannot be dismissed on a technicality, or the accused can’t argue that he was denied a fair trial.”
Bippert also expressed concern regarding the backlog in forensic laboratories, which has been contributing to delays in various criminal cases across the nation, including this one.
She added: “The forensic labs are currently experiencing a backlog, which I still believe can be addressed.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the government enlisted private laboratories to aid with Covid testing.
“Thus, I find it perplexing why they do not prioritize addressing gender-based violence [GBV] with the same urgency and engage private labs to alleviate the backlog.
“Sadly, many cases are dismissed, and the victims’ families are left without justice.
“Therefore, it is crucial that everything possible is done to ensure the accused receives a fair trial while simultaneously ensuring justice for Deveney’s murder.”
Bippert emphasized that it is essential to prevent delays in justice, acknowledging that extended legal processes only serve to deny victims and their families the resolution they deserve.
She concluded: “I firmly believe that delayed justice ultimately leads to a denial of justice.
“We must exert every effort to promote the progress of this process so that we can secure justice for Deveney.”