Cape Town - Defence lawyer William Booth is expected to argue for access to the state’s docket in the case against murder accused Diego Novella on Thursday afternoon.
Novella was arrested in July for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering his American girlfriend, Gabriela Kabrins Alban. The two were holidaying in Cape Town and were staying at an exclusive boutique hotel in Camps Bay.
Novella, who comes from Guatemala, was allegedly found wandering on Camps Bay beach semi-naked.
Earlier on Thursday, Novella appeared in court briefly before Magistrate Grant Engel postponed the matter to later in the day.
His lank hair had been cut off exposing the number 13 tattooed on the side of his neck.
Defence laywer William Booth has not yet been given access to affidavits, forensic evidence and the post mortem report.
He asked the magistrate to adjourn the case for several hours so that he could consider aspects and consult with his client on 10 pages of documents handed to him by the state.
In August, Booth requested Novella be placed under 30 days observation at Valkenberg Psychiatric hospital.
But Novella remains on a waiting list and is currently being held at the hospital wing of Pollsmoor prison.
The case is expected to resume at 2pm on Thursday.
ANA
* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.