Rob Evans\u2019s defence lawyer, Paul Roelofse, has criticised what he described as an investigative blunder \u2014 the failure to secure Vanessa van Rensburg\u2019s cellphone while her body was still at the crime scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This emerged during his cross-examination of investigating officer Warrant Officer Xolile Kato in the Humansdorp Regional Court today, June 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vanessa (36) was found murdered at Rob Evans\u2019 (58) holiday home in Oyster Bay during Easter weekend, on April 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Evans is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and obstruction of justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA cellphone has become such an important element of investigation,\u201d Roelofse argued, expressing disbelief that such evidence wasn\u2019t immediately secured by police members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you make sure to take Vanessa\u2019s cellphone on the 20th?\u201d Roelofse pressed the investigating officer, highlighting that while Evans\u2019 phone was taken on the day of the murder, Vanessa\u2019s phone was handed over to family members without proper examination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When questioned about this decision, Kato defended his actions by stating there are \u201ctrained people who can intercept phone info\u201d and that equipment exists to \u201cretrieve information that\u2019s deleted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During today\u2019s court proceedings, Roelofse\u2019s questioning highlighted forensic evidence that is currently unavailable for the murder investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roelofse questioned Kato about nail clippings taken from Vanessa by pathologists. State prosecutor, Bianca Burger, in a previous court appearance had argued that scratch marks found on Evans when examined by police were from Vanessa scratching him while fighting for her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know – you\u2019re waiting for DNA, if they match with Evans,\u201d Roelofse stated, emphasising that investigators still don\u2019t have the DNA results to match against Evans. Kato confirmed, stating that they are still waiting for the nail clipping results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Roelofse asked about toxicology reports from the evening of Vanessa\u2019s death, Kato confirmed that no results from forensics were available yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roelofse questioned the credibility of state witness and Old Grey Restaurant owner, Ronel van Eyck\u2019s claim that she feared Evans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kato had stated Evans was \u201cfeared by a lot of people,\u201d but Roelofse challenged this depiction regarding Ronel\u2019s interactions with Evans following an altercation at Crusaders Rugby Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As previously reported by the Express, Van Eyck provided a statement detailing previous incidents where Evans allegedly became aggressive and verbally abusive at a Crusaders rugby club event. This led Van Eyck to close the restaurant that operated at Crusaders Rugby Club, which is allegedly financially assisted by Evans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kato further stated that one of Evans\u2019 legal representatives contacted her, which instilled more fear in her. In his testimony, Kato claimed this contact with a state witness demonstrated Evans was a threat who could potentially intimidate witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid Evans make any contact to witnesses?\u201d Roelofse asked, to which Kato responded, \u201cNo he did not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roelofse argued that Evans had not threatened or approached Ronel, as he is in custody. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following their Crusaders interaction, he had simply ignored her. \u201cHe didn\u2019t greet or speak to her, he didn\u2019t have any interaction with her. So he ignored her,\u201d Roelofse argued, maintaining that Evans ignoring her following the interaction did not warrant fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The matter has been remanded for tomorrow, June 5, for further cross-examination.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rob Evans\u2019s defence lawyer, Paul Roelofse, has criticised what he described as an investigative blunder \u2014 the failure to secure Vanessa van Rensburg\u2019s cellphone while her body was still at 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