Durban — Representatives of a Durban man accused of killing a woman allegedly because of religious beliefs want a further mental assessment for him.
Lawyers of Grayson Beare, 44, want to determine for certain whether their client was fit to face a charge of murder and two of attempted murder.
It is alleged Beare broke into the Glenmore home of the Hoosen-Preston family on the morning of June 2 and stabbed three people. Halima Hoosen-Preston died and her husband Sean and son suffered serious injuries.
In a video shared on social media, Beare said the attack was as a result of the family’s pro-Palestinian stance.
Making his third appearance in a packed Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he had been expected to make a formal bail application, Beare’s defence attorney, Nyameko Jodwana, told the court they intended to bring an application to declare him mentally unfit to stand trial. He wants his client evaluated by three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist.
Prosecutor Calvin Govender argued that the initial submission by the district surgeon which declared Beare fit to stand trial was accepted by the defence, and the issue could be addressed by calling the district surgeon to be cross-examined.
Presiding officer Ashwin Singh adjourned the matter to July 24, to hear the defence’s application and Beare was remanded in custody at the Westville Prison.
Speaking to the media outside court, Jodwana said he believed there was a high chance Beare may not be fit for trial: “He has been a psychiatric patient for more than five years and we have proof of that.”
Hoosen-Preston’s husband ultimately disputed claims of the attack being religiously motivated and described it as criminal.
Beare’s adoptive father, Beare Holdings chairperson Julian Beare, distanced himself and his family from his son’s actions, standing firmly with the Hoosen-Preston family.
Independent on Saturday