A torrent of expletives greeted the man accused of being the Station Strangler when he arrived at the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for an inquest into the deaths of three boys.
Norman Afzal Simons, then a 27-year-old teacher, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for only one killing, the 1994 murder of 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen.
”Julle protect ‘n raper [You are protecting a rapist]” was shouted as armed prison warders ferried him into the court precincts.
Dolores Links of Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain stood alone in support of Simons.
She said Simons had visited her home regularly and had given her children Bible classes. Those protesting outside did not know him as she did.
”Till this hour, I don’t believe he’s the murderer,” she said to outraged bystanders, who pointed their fingers at her, saying Simons had received his just deserts.
”I’m not taking his side, but isn’t he paying his dues?” she said.
By contrast, a Mrs Isaacs said Simons should not be released from prison because he might commit similar crimes.
”He must die in prison. He killed children,” she said.
A tattooed Noeraan Davids took out his knife and drew it across his throat, threatening to do the same to Simons.
In court, access was strictly controlled. Members of the public spoke about events 10 years ago, and the need for parents to be vigilant with their children.
Simons, who wore a bullet-proof vest in the dock, was represented by advocate Koos Louw.
Louw told the court the defence accepts responsibility for continuing with the investigation despite the financial implications. Given the history of the case, it is doubtful legal aid will be forthcoming.
He said Simons was told last week by prison authorities that he would be asked to testify at the inquest into the deaths of Donovan Swartz (11) and nine-year-old Elino Sprinkle.
”This morning we learnt that another dossier would be added, that of [nine-year-old] Marcelino Cupido,” said Louw.
He also learnt the state would ask for all dossiers on the Station Strangler, meaning another 21 cases could be reinvestigated besides the three currently before the inquest court.
The bodies were found in different magisterial districts. It has not been decided where the centralised matter will be heard.
Louw said all DNA samples relating to the cases, including some not previously linked to the Strangler, are ”hopefully” in Pretoria.
”Simons agreed that further DNA samples, including hair and semen, could be taken from him,” said Louw.
Magistrate Marelise Roller postponed the matter to December 6, when a further date will be set for the start of the formal inquest.
Prosecutor Ralph Zeeman said the purpose of the inquest is to determine if anybody was responsible for the deaths of more than 20 Cape Flats boys.
Many believe Simons is the Station Strangler. Louw said officials at the Drakenstein prison outside Paarl, where Simons is serving his sentence, boast to visitors that they have the strangler in their custody.
The Station Strangler began his killing spree in 1986, when the first body was found. He sodomised and murdered his victims after luring them from video arcades and railway stations. By early 1994, the tally reached at least 22 when a batch of 11 bodies was found in the sand dunes of Mitchells Plain.
Former rector works on book
Former University of the Western Cape rector Professor Richard van der Ross was at the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday where he hoped to get more information for a book he is writing on the Station Strangler.
Van der Ross, now retired, said he started his as-yet-untitled book 10 years ago while in Spain.
He said outside court he is trying to understand the ”workings of the mind” of a man who would commit the crimes of which Simons stood accused.
That is ”the psychology of the case”. The other part of the book relates to the sociology of the murder victims.
”How did it come about that eight-, 10-, 12-year-olds are found in situations where they are open to this [sort of crime]?”
Van der Ross said he is revising his book in the light of further psychological information and hopes to interview Simons in person. — Sapa– Sapa