A Gqeberha man who has been charged in connection with the murder of his mother is fit to stand trial and intends on pleading guilty to the crime.
Maurice Butlion, 33, faces a charge of murder and arson relating to the death of his 65-year-old mother, Sharon-Ann.
Sharon-Ann died in a suspicious fire that engulfed her flat in Park Drive in September 2022.
Butlion appeared in the city's Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after spending 30 days at the Fort England Hospital in Makhanda, where he underwent a psychiatric evaluation.
State Prosecutor Melani Hammett placed the contents of the psychiatric report on record, which confirms that Butlion is fit to stand trial.
The report further states that "at the time of the alleged offence, the accused was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of the act in question, and able to act in accordance with such appreciation of wrongfulness."
The report recommends that the law takes its course.
By way of attorney, Butlion informed the court that he intends to plead guilty to the crime.
The court heard that the matter would be finalised in the Gqeberha High Court.
The case was remanded to 23 August for the parties involved to obtain a High Court date.
Butlion will remain in custody since he abandoned his bail shortly after his arrest in 2022.
