Africa-Press – South-Africa. An extradition inquiry involving a 41-year-old South African man accused of killing two Irish nationals in 2014 has been adjourned until October for the defence to conduct research on the matter.
Neville van der Westhuizen appeared in the Durban Regional Court on Friday, where he maintained an objection to the inquiry against him.
According to Irish law enforcement authorities, Van der Westhuizen allegedly committed the double murder together with his lover, Ruth Lawrence, a 42-year-old Irish national, before fleeing to South Africa.
The bodies of 32-year-old Eoin O’Connor and 33-year-old Anthony Keegan were found wrapped in plastic sheeting and buried in a shallow grave on the Irish island of Inchicup in May 2014.
They are believed to have been shot dead.
According to a BBC report, Irish police suspected the deceased had left Dublin to settle a drug debt to a criminal gang in County Cavan.
Lawrence was arrested in Bloemfontein in October last year and deported back to her home country in May.
In November 2022, Interpol, working with the local police, traced Van der Westhuizen to the Westville Correctional Centre where he is currently serving 15 years for a separate murder.
He has so far served three years behind bars.
He had been living in Ireland for two years before the double murder.
On Thursday, News24 reported that Van der Westhuizen based his objection on fears that he might be killed if he’s extradited to Ireland.
Ntando Cele, his attorney, said his client had received death threats and was informed that he would be executed as soon as he landed in Ireland.
‘Those who have made threats against him say they have connections in the Irish prison system,’ he said.
Friday’s proceedings
On Friday, the issue of two affidavits – dated 17 and 18 August 2023 – deposed by Irish police took centre stage.
The defence said it had received them on 18 September, three days before the inquiry commenced, and complained that they had little time to prepare.
However, the prosecutor, advocate Naveen Sewparsat, explained that the affidavits had to go through diplomatic channels before they could be shared with the defence.
Cele maintained his argument that the affidavits were deposed in a different jurisdiction and some research was required before he could advise his client on the appropriate response.
He said the documents raised issues he was not familiar with.
In response, Sewparsat said the State was still deciding whether to use the affidavits or not.
“My learned friend must also note that this is an inquiry, not a matter being dealt [with] within the realms of a criminal matter,” he said.
He said the State would persist with the call for Magistrate Kevin Bruorton to rule that Van der Westhuizen is liable to be extradited.
Although Sewparsat had on Thursday argued that the claims of death threats by the respondent were vague, on Friday, he said: “The State will reserve its right to lead evidence on safety matters in Irish prisons.”
Cele said:
“In the interest of fairness, we must be given a chance to properly look into these affidavits,” Cele continued.
He also argued that the extradition proceedings were not just as his client was already serving a prison sentence.
He said:
He asked what would happen if his client was extradited and then acquitted of the charges against him in Ireland.
Sewparsat argued that it was in the interest of justice for Van der Westhuizen to respond to the allegations against him in Ireland.
“We are seeking for this court to declare that the respondent is liable for extradition, and it will be up to the minister of justice, guided by Section 10 of the Extradition Act of 1962, to determine whether the respondent should complete his sentence here or be commuted and attend to the charges in the Republic of Ireland,” he said.
The matter is expected to return to court on 13 October.
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