Simxolele Zitshu (31) who is suspected to have murdered 40-year-old physiotherapist, Marolien Schmidt, made his second appearance in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court today for what was meant to be his bail application hearing.
Walking into the dock dressed in black jeans and a black fleece hoody, different from the clothes he wore yesterday during his first court appearance (Monday, August 14), Zitshu told the court he’d still like to represent himself. “I’m ready to make my plea, I just want to speed up this whole process,” Zitshu said in isiXhosa.
READ MORE | Suspect in murder of Marolien Schmidt has previous convictions for murder and robbery
After the presiding magistrate informed him that opting not to have legal representation will not the speed the process up, Zitshu changed his mind and asked to have a legal representative. Although the 31-year-old repeat offender told the court he was ready to tell the truth about what happened the night Schmidt was murdered, he also said he would still like to proceed with a bail application. His formal bail application has been postponed to Tuesday, August 22.
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During yesterday’s court appearance, Zitshu confirmed that he had been convicted for murder and robbery on a previous occasion. No further details were provided in court on these convictions.
He remains in custody.
Schmidt, a well-known Gqeberha physiotherapist and Ironman triathlon athlete, died after being stabbed in her Richmond Hill home in the early hours of August 9.
