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The case against Johnny Baartman, who is facing charges for the murder of his ex-wife, Desiree Baartman, was postponed for a possible plea negotiation on Wednesday, 27 March.
Donned in a neatly ironed red t-shirt, jeans, and a surgical mask, Baartman's demeanour seemed composed during his brief appearance in Gqeberha's magistrate court. Charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice stare Baartman in the face.
The charges against him stem from June 2023, when he allegedly killed the mother of his two children and dumped her body in a drain on the outskirts of Gqeberha. He allegedly cleaned the crime scene.
Police discovered Desiree's body in a 3,7 m deep drain on 20 June 2023 at about 21:00 in Jagtevlakte on the outskirts of Gqeberha after Baartman's first court appearance.
He led the investigating team to the drain to show where he allegedly dumped her body.
The discovery was made about six days after Baartman reported Desiree missing at the Bethelsdorp police station.
Baartman, on 14 June 2023, told police that Desiree left their home in Nagel Street, Bethelsdorp, on 9 June 2023 at 10:00. Despite looking for her at family and friends, there was no sign of her.
After reporting her missing, police searched the house the Baartman's shared despite their divorce, where they seized a firearm.
Baartman, before his initial court appearance last year, was charged with attempted murder because there was no sign of Desiree's body.
Following his arrest, Baartman attempted suicide while in police custody by trying to slit his wrists. After the suicide attempt, Baartman, during an evaluation with a state doctor, said that he killed his wife because she "provoked" him. He said that he regretted his actions. However, Baartman's legal representative, Qhamani Sinefu, told the court that these evaluations should not be construed as an admission of guilt.
The state doctor recommended that Baartman undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Fort England Psychiatric hospital in Makhanda (Grahamstown).
Baartman was admitted to Fort England from 20 October 2023 to 15 November 2023.
According to the psychiatric report dated 15 November 2023, the medical team found that Baartman was fit to stand trial as no evidence of mental illness or intellectual disability would impede his ability to participate in court proceedings.
Baartman is expected to appear in court on Friday, 10 May 2023. He remains in custody after he decided to abandon his bid for bail.
