Shocking images of Vanessa van Rensburg’s badly bruised body were shown in the Humansdorp Regional Court on Friday during the fifth day of murder accused Rob Evans’ formal bail application.
State prosecutor Bianca Burger told the court that Van Rensburg, 36, was likely beaten to death with a whisky bottle, which was later thrown into a bin.
Burger was addressing the court during cross-examination of the 58-year-old business owner who is facing charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping, attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Showing the photographs to Evans, Burger told the court that Evans was the only person known to have been with Van Rensburg at his Oyster Bay holiday home, where her body was discovered in the early hours of Easter Sunday.
During questioning, Burger put it to Evans: “To me, these look like marks of someone who fought back against somebody.
“You will agree with me — and I am not a doctor — but to me, that looks extremely painful.”
She then presented images of Van Rensburg’s rib injuries.
“These are the ribs you alleged were injured by her four-year-old son,” Burger said.
“I assume every photo I’m going to show you, you’re going to say ‘no comment’.
“She was anaemic, you said she bruised easily ... Does this look like someone who just bruised easily?”
Evans responded: “No comment.”
“What was the weather like, Mr Evans? Was it chilly or hot?” Burger asked, to which Evans responded that the weather was perfect.
“It wasn’t rainy, windy, or cold — it was perfect.”
She then asked what Van Rensburg had been wearing on the Saturday night before Van Rensburg’s death, when they were at a braai hosted by resident Keith Belling.
He said he could not remember.
Burger then presented photos taken at the gathering and asked Evans whether Van Rensburg was visible.
“Mr Evans, I put it to you that is Vanessa van Rensburg,” Burger said.
“In the photo, you can see she was not wearing a scarf. Would you agree?”
He replied: “I can see she was not.”
Referring to the photographs of Van Rensburg’s body, Burger said the scarf around her neck could have been placed there during her murder.
“Miss Van Rensburg had a scarf around her neck. That is strange, Mr Evans. Do you agree?
“I put it to you as fact, Mr Evans: nobody broke into the house to rob you.
“Neither your cellphone nor the deceased’s was stolen.
“I am putting it to you as fact: she was assaulted — not only assaulted, but beaten to death.
“She did not do this to herself, Mr Evans.
“I would go as far as to say that even if — let’s, for one second, imagine — there was another person in the house, whether it was you, Vanessa, or a third party, the murderer ... there is no way you would not have heard it.”
Burger said the only explanation that made sense was that Van Rensburg was assaulted by the accused.
As she pressed Evans further, his lawyer, Paul Roelofse, advised the businessman not to comment on the merits of the case.
Magistrate Deidre Dickson then reminded Evans that he was not obliged to answer questions that could potentially incriminate him.
Earlier in the week, it was revealed that Evans had given “conflicting” statements to police about what had happened when Van Rensburg’s body was found.
A witness and local fisherman, a Mr Taljaard, in a witness statement read out by Burger in court, said he had passed Evans’ house at about 8.30pm and heard shouting and fighting.
When he passed again later, he said Evans was sitting outside alone, drinking.
The state also presented CCTV footage on Wednesday showing Evans allegedly assaulting a man at Old Grey weeks before Van Rensburg’s death.
Burger said this contradicted Evans’ claim that he was not a violent person.
Van Rensburg left behind two young children — an eight-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son.
Burger asked Evans: “She had a good relationship with her children, right?”
Evans replied that she did, and described her as an exceptional mother.
“[The children’s father] says that though she earned less than him, she still paid for the children’s school fees,” Burger said.
“In terms of her mothering, you can’t say anything negative about her.”
Evans responded: “She was a very good mother. [A lot of times], I dropped her off to visit her kids.”
Burger also asked if he had attended her memorial service.
Evans said he had not.
“Everyone at the funeral was against me, apparently,” he said.
“I didn’t watch it live because I didn’t want to be sad. I wanted to watch it at a later stage.”
The funeral was held in Theescombe.
Evans was arrested on May 9 at his business, Algoa Plastics.
He faces charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
Evans’ bail application was postponed to May 30 for further investigation. He will remain in custody.
The Herald
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