FIT FOR TRIAL

THE man charged with brutally stabbing five-year-old Xavier Mitchell from Bishop Lavis to death was declared fit to stand trial.

Mervyn White, who suffers from a mental health condition, returned to the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court on Wednesday after he completed a psychiatric evaluation at Valkenberg Hospital.

While White appeared in the dock he looked around in the gallery and flashed a smile, as the court heard that he was fit to stand trial.

The news left klein Xavier’s mother, Sylvia, a broken woman as she couldn’t hold back the tears in the gallery.

Xavier was left in the care of his nanny, who is also their neighbour, on 7 August 2024.

At the time of his murder, it was revealed that White is the brother of the nanny, and when she went to the toilet and left Xavier with the suspect, he was stabbed three times in the back.

Sylvia told the Daily Voice that she was left with mixed emotions, because it felt like the case was never going to see an end.

She said: “It felt like my son’s case was going to fall through. When I heard ‘the medical report is back and he is fit to stand trial’ toe huil ek.

“My family and I sat at Lavis court every time he appeared and the case kept getting postponed. I really lost my faith in the justice system, then this update came through.

“Ek is sonder woorde. My child will finally get justice. Vir my as a ma is dit baie seer, ek het elke aand gehuil.”

She added that she knows when the trial starts that old wounds would reopen, but she is thankful for her family for supporting her constantly.

Xavier’s father, Ricardo, who does not always attend court due to work, told Sylvia that justice will prevail.

She added: “I don’t know how long the trial will take, because we waited a year and two months for the doctor's report, but I just want everything to come to an end.

“Al ek wil hê dat die man wat my kind seer gemaak het moet gestraf word.”

The case was postponed to 10 November for trial at the Parow Regional Court.