Cape Town - Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron broke down in court on Thursday and left the dock in tears in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court, where she and her partner are facing charges of killing her mother, Rosemary Theron.
Theron, 19, and co-accused Kyle Maspero, 18, were expected to apply for bail on Thursday, but the court heard that they had elected not to bring the application.
They wanted to “finalise the matter as soon as possible”, according to their attorney, Tracey Dowman.
Co-accused Godfrey Scheepers, 20, who was released on bail last week, was also in court.
Before the trio were called to the dock, magistrate Crystal Mckenna ruled that the media could take pictures of the accused while court was not in session.
While photographers snapped away, Maspero stood impassively while Theron trembled.
Gasps and murmurs rippled across the public gallery, where some of Rosemary Theron’s friends and supporters - as well as people attending in support of the accused - were seated.
“This is sickening” and “I can’t believe this” were among the comments heard from the gallery, while some people became emotional and wiped away tears as the cameras clicked.
Theron stood between Scheepers and Maspero, who had shaved his head.
Rosemary Theron’s body was discovered in a shallow grave in Strandfontein last month. The 39-year-old mother of three, who was a well-loved entertainer, professional clown and stiltwalker, had been reported missing in March.
The State alleges Theron plotted with Maspero to murder her mother, while under the influence of drugs.
Theron hugged her mother, after they’d had an argument, while Maspero crept up behind Rosemary Theron and strangled her with a rope, according to the State.
Scheepers became involved when Maspero allegedly asked him to help him move the body from a field in Clovelly where it had been buried. They left it in a shallow grave near Baden Powell Drive.
Police said Scheepers came to them and confessed, leading to the body being uncovered.
The matter was postponed to November 19 and Theron and Maspero were led back to the cells.
Friends and relatives of Rosemary Theron have planned a tribute memorial for this weekend.
On October 5, her friends in Plettenberg Bay met on Solar Beach to celebrate her life, creating a mandala in the sand, singing songs and meditating.
Cape Argus