Johnny Baartman during a previous appearance in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court.
- Johnny Baartman, the Gqeberha man accused of killing his ex-wife, will finally be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for observation.
- His check-in date is exactly four months since the body of his ex-wife, Desiree Baartman, was found in a stormwater drain in Jagtersvlakte.
- The former teacher will appear in court before he is admitted.
Four months after Desiree Baartman’s body was found in a stormwater drain in Jagtersvlakte, Gqeberha, her ex-husband, who is accused of her murder, will check into the Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda.
Johnny Baartman briefly appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Prosecutor Melanie Hammett told the court that Baartman would finally be sent for observation at the psychiatric hospital next Friday, 20 October, – exactly four months since Desiree’s body was found.
The former teacher, who shared a home with his ex-wife at the time of her disappearance, was arrested a few days after she went missing.
During his first court appearance, Hammett pointed out that Baartman had bandages tied around his wrists after an alleged attempt to slit them.
The court ordered that he should undergo psychiatric evaluation.
Baartman has been waiting since mid-June for a bed to become available.
During his previous court appearances, Baartman kept his head down and did not make any eye contact.
But on Friday he appeared confident.
Sporting a colourful striped shirt and a black jeans, with a blue mask over his nose and mouth, he held his chin up and looked the magistrate straight in the eye.
Even his brother, who was seated in the public gallery, agreed.
Asked how he felt about the court proceedings, the brother shrugged and said he didn’t know what to say.
“The family is doing okay,” he added with a sad smile.
“I am just waiting for the prosecutor, to speak to her, but I don’t really know what to say.”
The case was postponed to 20 October.
Baartman will appear in court before he is transported to Fort England.
Desiree’s body was found in a drain about five metres deep.
She was missing for almost two weeks.
Baartman pointed her body out to police.