'NICKY IS JESUS' - Girlfriend killer Van Druten makes outrage claim in court as he is sent to Valkenburg

THE man accused of murdering former Plettenberg Bay detective Anneke “Nicky” van Heerden shocked the local court on Friday when he said she was Jesus and he the Archangel Michael.

Bevan van Druten, 53, then abruptly abandoned his bid for bail while standing in the dock of the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court for his fourth appearance, before the court referred him to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital 

Van Heerden, a well-known local resident, was found dead on a heap of sand in Plettenberg Bay in January.

The 54-year-old former police officer had been brutally attacked and died from her injuries.

Van Druten, who was arrested shortly afterwards and charged with her murder, asked the magistrate to have a handwritten letter read into the record.

In the letter, the Garden Route driftwood artist said Van Heerden was Jesus Christ and that he was the Archangel Michael, before saying he no longer wished to apply for bail.

"She was a special person, a child of God," said Van Druten, who appeared looking neater than during his previous court appearances, with his hair tied back and a trimmed beard.

“I am standing in front of the court, charged with murder.

"In flesh, I am standing as Archangel Michael. Nicky van Heerden is Jesus Christ herself.

"I am announcing here the current return of Jesus Christ so that the whole world may be healed by her return.”

In Christian belief, the Archangel Michael is regarded as a powerful heavenly warrior and protector, often described as the leader of God’s angels who battles evil and defends the faithful.

Van Druten’s Legal Aid lawyer also did not object to the State’s request that he be moved to Valkenberg. The court approved this request.

The matter has been postponed to 6 March.

Van Druten, who lived in Wilderness but recently moved to Plettenberg Bay, is well known along the Garden Route for his sculptures and was frequently featured in the media with his pieces.

He also sold his work internationally.

But just as well known as he was for his artistic talent, he was, according to residents, also infamous in Wilderness for his "temper and for picking fights".

An elderly woman from Sedgefield said he had "tormented" her for a long time, but the final straw came on January 23, 2024.

The anonymous woman said: “My friend and I and our two dogs decided to take our domestic worker to the taxi rank,” the 62-year-old said on condition she not be named.

“As we got out of the driveway, there Bevan was in front of our car and his car in front of the gate.”

She said he “basically held us hostage for about an hour”.

"Our domestic worker took a picture and the security company and the police arrived … they then managed to talk him down and got him across the road.”

IOL is in possession of the statement and the case number.

Asked to confirm the case number, police spokesperson Warrant Officer Chris Spies said: “It is not within our scope or authority to verify case numbers.”