The court postponed the case against 18-year-old Ikemetse Tsheole. He is accused of poisoning his 3-year-old brother, Abraham, with rat poison. The case will resume on March 13. Tsheole appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. This marked his second court hearing. His legal representative, Lucky Sundani, made a request. Sundani asked for a temporary suspension of the bail application. He requested this until Tsheole undergoes a comprehensive mental health evaluation.
A Tragic Incident in Orange Farm
The incident occurred on January 31 at the Tsheole family’s home in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg. Tsheole allegedly poisoned his brother Abraham after an argument at their residence. Following the tragic event, the boy’s mother became concerned when she noticed that Abraham had gone missing around 11 a.m. Initially assuming he was playing at a neighbor’s house, the mother grew alarmed by 1 p.m. when he still hadn’t returned. Sadly, the child was later found dead.
The family’s grief deepened as community members from nearby Drieziek attended Abraham’s funeral last Thursday. They rallied in solidarity during the heartbreaking time.
Mental Health Screening Critical for Legal Process
At the court hearing, Sundani argued that Tsheole’s mental health should be evaluated before proceeding with the case. He suggested that his client’s schizophrenia, diagnosed in 2021, may have affected his understanding of the offense. Sundani cited a report from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. The report showed that Tsheole had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“From the instructions and documents before me, it’s clear there may be a possibility that the accused didn’t understand the wrongfulness of his actions or may not be able to fully follow the proceedings,” Sundani stated. He asked the court to delay the case for further evaluation.
State Pushes for Psychiatric Assessment
The State prosecutor, Advocate Taku Chabalala, emphasized the need for a psychiatric evaluation to assess whether Tsheole had criminal capacity at the time of the alleged offense. Discussions with Tsheole’s family revealed that his medical condition had worsened, possibly exacerbated by drug addiction. The State insists on sending Tsheole to Sterkfontein Hospital for a comprehensive psychiatric examination. Based on the findings, the prosecution will determine whether to proceed with the charges or declare him a mental health patient.
See also: 18-year-old allegedly kills 3-year-old brother with rat poison.
