A suspect in the axe murder of estate agent Andre Weitz was found on the roof of the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital trying to escape, the Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.
Professor Sean Kaliski, principal specialist of forensic psychiatric services in the Western Cape, attached to Valkenberg, testified at the trial of Michael Bernard van Zyl, who is charged with Weitz’s murder.
It is stated that Van Zyl and Weitz were partners in Bloemfontein, until Weitz moved to the Cape. Van Zyl later also moved to the Cape, and lived for a short period with Weitz.
It is alleged that Weitz, who had formed a relationship with another man, had asked Van Zyl to leave his home, and had in fact taken Van Zyl to a bus stop along with his baggage.
Prosecutor Quinton Appels alleges that Van Zyl, in fact, returned secretly to the Weitz home, where he attacked Weitz with an axe in June 2004.
Kaliski told the court: ”Shortly after admission to the hospital, Van Zyl climbed on to the roof and had to be physically brought down. Van Zyl would not explain his presence on the roof of the hospital, but we assumed he was trying to escape.”
He said he diagnosed Van Zyl as having a social anxiety disorder, which is common and characterised by excessive shyness. He added: ”The disorder cannot make the patient certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act.”
Kaliski said his clinical diagnosis was that Van Zyl was not mentally ill, but that he was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of the alleged murder, which rendered Van Zyl fit to stand trial.
He said Van Zyl had told him of a voice that regularly urged ”kill him, kill him”, but because Van Zyl was unable to differentiate the voice from his thoughts, the voice was assessed as not being a hallucination.
At interviews during Van Zyl’s period of observation, Van Zyl had been hesitant to engage in conversation and had refused to discuss his thoughts, feelings and actions during the alleged axe attack on Weitz.
Kaliski said Van Zyl had become less and less communicative during interviews, and had often stared out the window, or down at the floor, instead of answering questions. He added: ”When he did answer, he was laconic and would refuse to elaborate.”
At one stage, Van Zyl had offered to write his answers to questions, but, given paper and pen, he had started drawing arrows in concentric circles and refused to respond to any further inquiries.
The case continues on Wednesday. — Sapa