Africa-Press – South-Africa. The family and friends of a murdered Piketberg retail worker, Natasha Booise, left the Western Cape High Court on Friday fuming after the police failed, for the second time, to bring her ex-policeman boyfriend to court.
“He’s being protected,” shouted Erika Jackson on the steps outside, describing herself as Booise’s “bedonderde aunt” (very angry aunt). “It’s not right!”
Booise was shot dead on a walk with her family on 2 January 2022.
Her boyfriend, Richard Smith, is alleged to have been nagging to see her – and then eventually tracked her down, called her over, and shot her dead with his service gun.
She is survived by a young child.
He was a policeman at the time, but is understood to have resigned.
He is charged with the murder of Booise, two counts for the attempted murder of Roslin Kaaiman and Erin Plaatjies, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, handling a firearm while under the influence of a substance which has an intoxicating or narcotic effect, and two counts of assault for allegedly threatening the surviving women.
The case has been complicated from the start.
Smith was an orderly in the Piketberg court where he was supposed to appear, so an out-of-town prosecutor and magistrate were brought in.
Initially, he was defended by an out-of-town lawyer, William Booth.
Because Smith was a policeman, care had to be taken regarding where he would be detained ahead of the trial, given the potential risk to his safety by inmates who dislike the police.
The case moved relatively quickly from Piketberg to the Western Cape High Court – and Booise’s family and friends made the long trek to be present, wearing T-shirts depicting her image.
He was not brought to his last scheduled appearance, ostensibly because he was not requisitioned to go to court.
When people in custody have to go to court, forms must be completed, giving the prison’s permission to transport the inmate to the court and back.
When Judge Matthew Francis was told Smith was absent again on Friday, there was consternation in the public gallery.
Booise’s friends and family leaned over the railings, hoping to see him emerge from the underground cells, and were stunned to hear that he was absent – again.
The investigating officer was also not present.
“This is unacceptable,” said Billy Claasen outside the court later.
Claasen primarily lobbies for farmworkers’ rights, but also brings attention to violent crime in small, close-knit farming communities, which are often glossed over by the media.
Speaking after the matter was postponed to 10 March for further pre-trial, Claasen said: “This is the second time. And Natasha’s family is coming to court from Piketberg just to hear that he is not here.”
Her family and friends usually bring a packed lunch and flasks of tea, which they share on the opened flap of a bakkie, in order to cut down on the cost of attending court.
Claasen said they would write a letter to the authorities to stop the delays.
“We need to seek closure in this case. We need to seek justice for Natasha Booise. We cannot take this,” he said.
“It is very simple: the authorities just need to speak to each other.”
The case is being handled by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, an entity independent of the SA Police Service, which usually manages the requisitions.
Francis was told that Smith was requisitioned by the investigating officer to be brought to court from Goodwood Prison by Pollsmoor Prison transport, but there was no clarity on what happened after that.
The prisons are at opposite ends of Cape Town.
In the meantime, Smith has a new lawyer, advocate Ntokozo Mjiyako, who introduced himself to Francis, and said he had already met his client and would continue with consultations.
During the bail application phase, it emerged that Smith had a history of violence and, at one point, was not allowed to carry a weapon.
For a stabbing in 2015, he was convicted of assault – and, in 2017, he was fined R1 500, also for assault.
He also has a conviction for the contravention of the Road Traffic Act and resisting arrest.
The Piketberg Magistrate’s Court fined him R3 000 for that incident.
He also shot at his father when he was told not to bring women home.
The case involving his father went to court five times and, after mediation, the charges were withdrawn.
Outside the court on Friday, Booise’s family said nothing less than a life sentence would make them feel justice had been served.
Once the cameras stopped rolling, the women muttered about what they would do to him if they encountered him in person.
“As ek hom in die hande kry, is hy in sy ma se moer.” (If I get my hands on him, he will be done for).
Booise’s best friend, Cazelda Willscott, stood silently through her anger.
“I miss her a lot,” she said.
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