St Francis Chronicle , 9 July: Wealthy PE businessman , Rob Evans, accused by the State of murdering Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, on Easter Sunday this year was denied bail in the Humansdorp Regional Court this morning, so he returns to Humansdorp prison to await trial, which might only commence next year, 2026.
The defence may, however, appeal the ‘No-bail’ verdict. They indicated after the ‘No Bail’ judgement that they will appeal the judgement in a higher court.
In denying bail to Evans, Magistrate Deidre Dickson said that Evans, 58, faces a Schedule 6 charge of premeditated murder for the Vanessa’s murder at his Oyster Bail holiday home on 20 April. Evans’ defence team had tried unsuccessfully to secure instead the lesser Schedule 5 charge which might have secured him to bail of R100k. The state held that with the kind of money Evans earns , around R7m a day, he was a flight risk “and might flee” to avoid a lifelong prison sentence, if found guilty.
Magistrate Dickson repeated the seriousness of gender-based violence which is a national crisis and needs to to be addressed.
Evans was arrested on 9 May this year and has been trying to obtain bail for the past two months. The bail hearing was long and protracted and there were some heated moments in court between the State and the Evans’ defence team, plus highly emotional moments ones for Vanessa’s family members who want #JusticeforVanessa and who appeared in court regularly. There were audible gasps in court when the the chief witness for the state, SAPS investigating officer, Warrant Officer Xolile Kato, described the murder scene and the bruises on Vanessa’s body.
This is still a developing story. Follow St Francis Chronicle to get more info on this case which has gripped and kept the Eastern Cape eager for news, particularly the Gqeberha and St Francis communities, including Oyster Bay where the murder occurred.
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