Lynn Williams
The Gqeberha man accused of killing his ex-wife will have to wait longer for a bed to become available at the Fort England psychiatric hospital in Makhanda.
Johnny Baartman, 59, has been referred for a psychiatric evaluation after he allegedly murdered his ex-wife, Desiree Baartman, 58, at the couple's Bethelsdorp home in June.
State prosecutor Melani Hammett informed the court that Fort England had not given the court any indication of when a bed would become available.
Hammett said she had already sent the hospital all the necessary paperwork and reports.
During a previous court appearance, it came to light that Baartman had allegedly told a district surgeon that he killed Desiree in the "spur of the moment" after being provoked.
He also admitted that he cleaned the crime scene.
According to the district surgeon's report, the fact that Baartman cleaned the house and hid the body meant that he knew what he was doing.
The state alleges that he dumped Desiree's body down a 3.7-meter stormwater drain next to Standford Road near the Jagtersvlakte area.
The couple's children were not present at court on Tuesday.
The case was remanded to 17 August.
Baartman remains in custody at the St. Albans Correctional Centre.
