PORT ELIZABETH, October 20 (ANA) – A 40-year-old man who is charged with brutally beating his wife to death with a rock and stabbing his son, appeared in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Friday, to apply for bail for the third time.
Dene Stebuys brought his bail application on new facts before Judge Pops Mageza.
The State opposed bail based on the matter falling under a schedule six offence. The investigating officer’s affidavit was read into the court record.
Taking the stand Stebuys complained of dangerous prison conditions and his health being affected negatively. He claimed that he was stressed out and that he was receiving medical treatment while being incarcerated.
Stebuys told the court that he “loved his [two] children” and that no harm would come to them if he were to be released on bail.
However, Prosecutor, Jason Thysse stated: “You state in your evidence-in-chief that you won’t hurt your children yet the State alleges you stabbed your son?”
Stebuys responded saying: “I will never endanger my children because they are precious to me. Even the community was surprised when I was arrested”.
The trial against Stebuys got underway earlier in May this year, but has been postponed several times due to Judge Phakamisa Tshiki being off sick. His trial was postponed to November 2017, but it was indicated that Tshiki would not be available in November, so matter is expected to be postponed to next year.
Stebuys said that he was unhappy that the trial judge was unavailable because he needed to provide for his children and his elderly parents.
Stebuys conceded to the State that it was not the fault of the court that his trial judge was unavailable up until next year.
Less than a month before Marilyn Stebuys was brutally murdered allegedly by her husband, she obtained an interim protection order against him out of fear that he would kill her and their children.
Her alleged murder took place in June last year. Dene is charged with her murder, two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and the contravention of a protection order.
The children are now in the care of their grandparents and both testified as State witnesses during trial. Stebuys has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The State alleges that he did not only beat his wife beyond recognition, but he also stabbed his own son, Denwin, 16, with a knife, when the teenager attempted to fuse a toxic situation.
Two previous bail applications brought before the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court were refused.
Judgment in his bail application will be handed down on Monday.
– African News Agency (ANA)
