Doctors and Nurses Protest Over Killing of University Professor in Somerset West

Somerset West - Shortly before the court proceedings began, a group of about 60 nurses, doctors and hospital staff arrived at the Somerset West Magistrate’s court bearing flowers and holding candles in silent protest against Stellenbosch University professor Louis Heyns’s murder.

After a few minutes, they were ordered to move away from the court entrance and assembled across the road outside a medical practice, singing softly as they protected their candles flames against the bitterly cold north-westerly wind.

One woman, Sanie Pekeur, a sister at Melomed Hospital said: “I worked with him for a very long time. He was very kind, a real people’s person - I have no more words.”

Many in the group wept openly.

At around 10am, well-known defence attorney William Booth arrived at the court - hired by the family of the owner of the so-called “chop shop” in Malmesbury where Heynes’s car was found.

Juan Liedeman, contrary to previous reports, did not face murder charges, according to information from sources at the court.

Shortly before 9am, the younger of the two brothers who face murder charges, arrived in a police double-cab bakkie.

As they approached the court, he lay down on the back seat to hide his face from the waiting media scrum.

The vehicle was driven into the secure parking lot and he was taken into the back end of the courtroom by investigating officers.

The older brother arrived separately.

While the court proceedings got under way, the nurses went to visit the site of the shallow grave at the Strand beachfront, where Heyns’s body was found, to lay wreaths.

Cape Argus