The cross-examination of an alleged murderer came to a halt on Tuesday after he claimed that he was too ill to continue with the matter.
Darryn Wentzel’s lawyer, advocate Johan van der Spuy, told Gqeberha high court judge Nyameko Gqamana on Monday that his client had experienced a sleepless night at St Albans Correctional Facility, as he was suffering from intense stomach pains.
Gqamana postponed the matter to Wednesday and ordered that Wentzel be seen by the nursing staff at St Albans immediately on his return, and that a doctor examine him as a matter of urgency.
Wentzel and his co-accused, Riaan Baartman, are accused of the November 7 2019 murder of Leonard Roberts and the attempted murder of five police officers.
At the start of their trial, the pair pleaded not guilty to a total of 12 charges including murder, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of contravening the prevention of organised crime act, and two counts each of the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
On Monday, Wentzel claimed a state witness who testified that he had driven the two accused to a house in Lawler Street, Schauderville, where the shooting of Roberts took place, had falsely implicated him in the offences.
During his testimony, the witness said he knew Wentzel and Baartman as “shooters”, while his role in the gang was to hide and distribute firearms.
Wentzel has vehemently denied being a gang member.
The case continues.
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