On the sixth day of murder accused Rob Evans’ bail hearing in the Humansdorp regional court, a seasoned detective took the stand, offering a detailed account of the crime scene he encountered when Vanessa van Rensburg’s body was found.
The 36-year-old Gqeberha woman was found murdered in her boyfriend’s Oyster Bay holiday home during the early hours of April 20.
Investigating officer WO Xolile Kato said he had received the call at about 2am.
As he described the crime scene and the events of that morning in vivid detail, Evans sat back in the dock and listened intently.
“I received the call at about 2am. I sent someone to the scene and followed shortly thereafter,” Kato said.
“When I arrived, the scene was already cordoned off.
“National Sea Rescue Institute members, Calibre Security, and neighbours were outside.
“Inside, Evans was with a colleague.
“In front of the sliding door, a female person was lying on the floor. Evans identified her as Vanessa van Rensburg.”
Kato explained that standard procedure was to first check for injuries to determine whether to open an inquest or a murder docket.
He described the visible injuries on Van Rensburg’s body.
“There was a [bruise] on the left side of her chin, another on her lower neck, maybe from [a] blunt force.
“There was also a scar on her right hand between the thumb and forefinger.
“I noticed marks on her chest.
“I had to open her jersey. It looked like a bite mark — actually, multiple bite marks, I’d say three to four.
“The area was red where the marks were.”
Kato said the mother of two was found fully clothed, in a turquoise jersey and jeans, with a scarf matching her jersey.
“She was still wearing a necklace, a bracelet, a ring and earrings.
“She was lying on her back.
“Her flip-flops were below her feet.”
Asked by state prosecutor Bianca Burger what he meant by “below her feet”, Kato clarified: “The shoes were not on her feet.”
Kato also described a trail of broken green glass leading from the body to the kitchen, where a shattered J&B whiskey bottle was found in a black bag inside a dustbin.
“The entire bottle was shattered, but the seal was untouched,” Kato said.
He later confronted Evans about the injuries and the broken bottle.
“I asked him about the bite marks.
“He stood up from the couch and said he was surprised.
“He then asked, ‘What bite marks?’”
Evans also denied knowing anything about the bottle, according to Kato.
“I showed him the bottle in the dustbin.
“He said he knew nothing about it.”
Asked by Burger if Evans appeared intoxicated, Kato said: “I could see he was not sober.
“He was drinking a lot of water.
“But he was not in a state that I could say he was drunk.”
Evans reportedly spent much of the time on the couch, crying and making phone calls.
“I assumed he was letting her family know,” Kato said.
He said Evans had co-operated with the investigation and gave officers permission to search the house.
“We checked each room.
“Everything looked fine.
“Nothing was stolen and there were no signs of forced entry.”
The court heard that Evans mentioned a friend, Mike McAfee, who had been with him and Van Rensburg earlier that night.
Police located McAfee, 67, later that morning.
He was staying outside Oyster Bay.
“Evans showed us where he was living. Mike was still sleeping so we had to hoot,” Kato said.
“He invited us in. I told Evans he could leave — we would interview Mike.”
McAfee confirmed he had joined Evans and Van Rensburg at the home of Keith Belling for a braai.
According to his statement, Kato said Van Rensburg left first, followed by Evans.
McAfee later returned to Evans’ house to fetch his bakkie and found Evans sitting outside.
“Evans said he needed help to open the door,” Kato said.
“McAfee gave it one push and it opened.
“He said he didn’t see Vanessa and then left.”
Kato said he has also interviewed neighbours.
Christo Joubert, who owns a holiday home next to Evans, said he saw Evans on Saturday and noticed a white Mahindra bakkie in the yard, later confirmed to be McAfee’s.
Joubert also recalled hearing a heated argument that evening.
“He said he heard a lot of swearing — ‘f*** you’ was said a lot,” Kato told the court.
Later that night, Joubert saw Evans outside on his phone.
Kato also brought up Evans’ official witness statement that was made later that day at 11am.
He said he never told Evans that he was a suspect, only that his girlfriend had died in his house and that they needed any information he could offer to get to the bottom of what had happened.
Earlier in the day, defence attorney Paul Roelofse read two affidavits into the record.
One affidavit was from Evans’ mother, Margaret.
She said her son had been living with them in Charlo since the incident.
Testimony continues on Friday afternoon.
The Herald
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