The man accused of holding advertising staff of the Pretoria News newspaper hostage last week will be evaluated by a district surgeon for a possible referral for psychiatric evaluation.
Lionel George (32), of Danville, west of Pretoria, was arrested on April 25 after a hostage drama that lasted nearly four hours. He allegedly held eight people hostage, claiming he was fed up with crime.
Police soon surrounded the building and stood guard on the first floor where the man hid with his victims. During this time, a police officer was shot in the leg and another shot was fired into the ceiling of the first floor.
After George allegedly released his hostages, including a pregnant woman, it still took hostage negotiators more than an hour to convince him to give up.
He will face charges of being in the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, kidnapping, attempted murder and the pointing of anything that likely lead a person to believe it was a firearm.
During his appearance in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday, magistrate Frans Poolman suggested to George that it would be wise to appoint an attorney. Pointing at the charge sheet, he said: ”These are ugly things. It is wise to have a legal representative if one is accused of such things.”
George replied he would apply for legal aid. He then told Poolman that he had been trying for some time, including the five nights and four days in jail, to see a psychiatrist. ”You are the highest-up person I can ask,” the tall, lean, blonde man requested.
Poolman explained that the procedure is for an accused to be examined by a district surgeon, who can then refer a patient to a psychiatric institution for evaluation if necessary, adding that it is a lengthy process.
His case was then postponed to May 9 for a legal aid representative. The court also ordered that the investigating officer should take George to the district surgeon.
As he returned to the holding cells, his mother, Daleen, burst into tears. — Sapa