A man who allegedly murdered his wife with an axe and buried her in another person’s grave in Soshanguve did not appear in the Pretoria North District Court on Thursday, as he had been sent to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital earlier this month.
Godfrey Macheke (37) was arrested in January last year for the kidnapping and murder of his wife, Margaret (32), allegedly committed on December 27 2006.
When Margaret went missing, her sister reported it to the police.
It was alleged that police found blood in Macheke’s vehicle and that he then led them to a grave in Winterveld where he had apparently buried his wife.
Macheke was denied bail.
In May last year, two district surgeons examined the accused and found that he suffered from hallucinations. It was recommended that he be sent to Weskoppies to determine if he could be held accountable for the alleged crimes and stand trial.
Since then the case was postponed numerous times, as Weskoppies did not have a bed available.
In January this year, the case was again remanded to Thursday, but the hospital apparently contacted the court on February 8, saying there was an open bed.
Macheke was requisitioned from the prison to come to court. He was then taken to Weskoppies for 30 days’ mental observation.
He is expected to appear in court again in March, as soon as the hospital informs the court that its evaluation has been completed. — Sapa