Sterkfontein Hospital delays to provide psychological-assessment for alleged family-killer William Colsby could set him free by July 26: attorney asked the court to strike case off the Roll
Kempton Park. A State prosecutor's failure to produce a Sterkfontein Hospital representative to testify why they can’t provide a timely psychological assesment of alleged family-murderer William Colsby, could cause him to walk free on July 26. Mr Colsby was found with slit wrists after he had allegedly murdered his wife Zonelia and adopted daughter Cindy on New Year’s Day when he was fired from his job of 20 years.
Murdered: Cindy and Zonelia Colsby. Jan 1 2011, Edleen, Kempton Park home: pater familias William Colsby found with slit wrists: after he was fired from his Standard Bank job of 20 years: the trial delays due to the State’s failure to get him placed for psychological assessment at Sterkfontein Hospital in Krugersdorp could cause magistrate to strike the case off the roll by July 26, 2011…
Many white families are under extreme duress because of black-economic empowerment laws barring them from labour market
Many whites are losing their jobs in South Africa under the ANC regime’s barring of whites from the labour market through its sonamed black-economic-empowerment laws. Besides a dramatic increase in suicides and family murderers, hundreds of thousands of well-educated whites now are destitute and unable to secure a future for their children. Mr Colsby’s case provides a dramatic illustration of the stress white South African families are under due to this black-racist law.
It’s not known whether Mr Colsby has ever received psychological treatment after the family drama. Instead, he’s been dragged through numerous court-appearances while waiting for Sterkfontein to give him a psychological assessment. The prosecutor said Colsby was Number 39 on the Sterkfontein waiting list on June 23. Initially he also was denied bail and was in jail, without any kind of psychological- or trauma treatment. Eventually he was granted bail. And now, after continuous delays due to Sterkfontein’s failure to provide the court with a timely psychological assessment as to whether Colsby was even mentally-fit enough to stand trial, the attorney has finally asked the case to be struck from the court roll on 23 June 2011.
Due to the circumstances in which he was found, he must be psychologically-assessed to establish his mental fitness to stand trial. Colsby's trial date cannot be set until he had been examined at Sterkfontein. Colsby's lawyer told the court on June 23 that he corresponded with the state-prosecutor, asking him to bring a representative from Sterkfontein to court, to explain why Colsby ‘s psychological assessment date was taking so long. “Unless a representative did not officially state the reasons, the case should be struck off the roll until further notice as the state had failed to secure a mental observation for Colsby,’ the lawyer said. “My client’s rights were infringed upon due to the numerous delays and postponements by the State. The State denies my client the privilege to a speedy trial.
The (unnamed) magistrate turned this request -- down this time. He postponed the case to July 26 – but did say that he would strike the case off the roll that day if the State does not within that month’s time, provide the requested information concerning Mr Colsby’s psychological assessment. He ordered everyone to appear before him that day, and extended Mr Colsby’s bail. (summary was sourced from article by Bernice Maune).
“The Stae was given a letter requesting my client's case be struck off the roll, it is unacceptable that I followed the procedure yet the State is not sufficient. They should have been prepared and ready. I cannot lean back to assist the State. The accused has a fixed address and he is not going anywhere. Serious charges and legal fees do not grow on one's back, how does the state expect him to pay for his fees ?" The magistrate then allowed an interval for the State to supply an explanation about its failure to acknowledge the accused's letter, secure a bed and to liaise with Sterkfontein's representatives.The prosecutor came back without acknowledging receipt of the letter and provided an unclear explanation.
Maune noted that 'Colsby's attorney said after the interval that in the meantime, 'my client had gone up once on the waiting list.’ He had called for a Sterkfontein representative to testify or for the case to be struck off the roll. The letter was ignored and we are not sure that this matter will be attended to. The State has brought nothing before the court, no facts or indication of when my client will be examined. It is not justice for my client to wait some more months. It is emotional and financial prejudice for my client to wait. He doesn't know when or where he will stand trial for murder. If the State want to prosecute they must get their house in order. I am not being taken seriously and am not here to play games, families are involved and we cannot brush that aside. The state must come up with a credible answer," he said.
Maune: ‘Colsby cut a solitary figure as he sat by himself during the court appearance. Dressed in a tracksuit jacket and pants, his grey hair was combed back with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He did not appear fazed by the severity of the charges against him. Instead he seemed calm. Throughout the proceedings he stared straight ahead and did not make eye contact with people seated around him. Colsby's brother, Jan was there to support him.”
Background:
It is alleged that Colsby had killed his wife and daughter by striking them with a torch to the head and then tried to commit suicide thereafter at their Kiepersol Street, Edleen home on New Year’s Day 2011. The State alleges that Colby became distraught when he was suddenly retrenched from his job he’d held down for 20 years. "Early Saturday morning between 6am and 7am, the neighbours heard screams coming from the house. The family's adopted daughter was outside and tried to get into the house. "She ended up calling the police, her pastor and family," said the source. Meanwhile inside the house, the couple were allegedly arguing over money in the bedroom. The wife apparently raised her voice to her husband. While walking away from him, he allegedly hit her from behind with a heavy duty police torch to the head, splitting her scalp open and killing her instantly. None of this was witnessed by anyone. However the adopted daughter then ‘confronted her father, who struck in her face with the torch. She too, died on the scene,’ according to the first descriptions in the news media just after the event. "A police officer arrived on the scene but couldn't go in as he felt it was unsafe. He called for back up. The flying squad, Sebenza police and paramedics arrived shortly thereafter. Eleven or twelve policemen went inside the house where they found the wife's body lying naked at the front door. "The daughter's body was found near the bar area. There was blood everywhere. As the flying squad went through the house, they initially thought it was a robbery. But, the man was found in the main bedroom laying in a pool of blood with his wrists slit, as he had tried to kill himself," recounted the source. The man was attended to by paramedics and stabilized. He was escorted by the police to Tembisa hospital .”The man had a history of psychological instability as he had previously tried to commit suicide. "When asked if he knew what he had just done, at first he couldn't recall. When told that he had killed his wife, he said he remembered that he had had enough and did not want to live anymore," an unidentified source told the Kempton Park newspaper.
Since that time, Colsby’s trial was repeatedly moved forward: all because Sterkfontein Hospital is unable to provide a timely psychological assessment While waiting, he was granted bail.
Mother and daughter are laid to rest
Alleged family killer is denied bail
Zonelia's close friend pays tribute to her
Man accussed of killing wife and daughter in court today
Colsby William Cindy Zonelia, Kempton Park, Edleen, New Year Day family tragedy, black economic empowerment, Standard Bank. South Africa
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