Child killer’s case is delayed

The case of convicted child killer Pieter van Tonder, who was supposed to be sentenced on Monday, was postponed in the Western Cape High Court on Monday as he is still being evaluated at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.

In October, Van Tonder admitted to brutally killing his girlfriend’s

one-year-old toddler in Roosendal, Delft in 2016.

Little Asheeqah Scott was burnt with cigarettes, strangled and beaten to death.

The tiny tot sustained burn wounds, contusions and abrasions, but the ultimate cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

The State pathologist also said Asheeqah had “many infections”, including bronchial pneumonia and an eye infection. She was malnourished and had an intracranial haemorrhage. She was strangled, and her ribs were fractured.

In court on Monday State prosecutor Ilze Herbst said Van Tonder was still in Valkenberg.

“The accused is still at hospital. That is why he is not in court today and doctors are still busy with their evaluation. We therefore ask the court for another adjournment,” Herbst submitted.

Acting judge, Mark Sher, granted the postponement.

The evaluation came after presiding judge Mushtak Parker called for Van Tonder to be sent for assessment to find out what made him “snap”, as he has never committed a violent crime before.

Defence lawyer, Advocate Henk Carstens, appeared irritated by the postponed.

The matter was postponed to 19 March for the outcome of the evaluation report from Valkenberg.

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