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The state has charged the ex-husband of missing Gqeberha woman, Desiree Baartman, with her murder, as well as defeating the ends of justice.
Johnny Baartman, 59, sat sobbing uncontrollably in the dock on Tuesday before proceedings began in the Magistrate's Court.
He was taken into custody over the weekend after forensic analysis of the house in Nagel Street revealed "foul play" in the disappearance of 57-year-old Baartman, who was reported missing by her former husband last Wednesday.
He told police that she left the Extension 29 home that they shared, in spite of their divorce, and never returned.
State prosecutor, Melani Hammett, told the court that the accused had self-inflicted injuries to his wrists, and asked for a postponement for Baartman to consult his Legal Aid attorney.
The court also heard that the accused elected to abandon his bid for bail and will be held in a single cell at the Bethelsdorp SAPS to ensure that he does not harm himself.
According to court documents, the State says it "will allege that the murder was premeditated and/or planned" while the charge of defeating the ends of justice relates to him "cleaning the scene of evidence and hiding the body of Desiree Baartman."
He will be back in court again on Wednesday.
