The 18-year old accused of Deveney Nel’s gruesome murder on 7 August 2024 made his first appearance in the Western Cape High Court today (Friday 12 September) at a pre-trial hearing. The indictment stating all the charges against him and a summary of the facts of the case revealed a charge of rape had been added to that of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The accused was 17 at the time of his arrest, on 16 August 2024, hours after he attended a memorial service for Deveney, which was restricted to the staff and learners of Hoërskool Overberg in Caledon and her parents.
His arrest took place a week after the young girl’s body had been discovered in a storage room in the school grounds. The horrific discovery was made during an extensive search launched after Deveney’s mother had reported her missing, after failing to appear for her lift from school to her home in Grabouw.
The accused, who was in Grade 11 at the time, was reportedly the last person seen with Deveney, who had helped with first-aid duties on the day.
The charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice stemmed from allegations that he reportedly tried to dispose of Deveney’s cellphone and ribbon, which were discovered at the back of a teacher’s bakkie.
The case was postponed to 17 October so the accused can consult his new attorney. He was expected to remain in custody until his next appearance.
