Cape Town - The case against Guatemalan Diego Novella, who stands accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his girlfriend in a Camps Bay hotel earlier this year, was postponed to December 10 in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The case has been dogged by delays, leaving a Spanish interpreter and the defence lawyer frustrated.
Novella was due to appear before Magistrate Grant Engel in court 16, but was only brought up from the holding cells just before lunch time.
The Guatemalan national was arrested in July after allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering Gabriela Kabrins Alban during a drug-fuelled orgy at their five-star boutique hotel in Camps Bay.
Novella was allegedly found wandering around Camps Bay beach semi-naked.
It has been widely reported that a large amount of cocaine and a bloodied curling iron were found at the scene, but this has yet to be confirmed in court.
In August, the defence requested the accused be placed under psychiatric observation for thirty days.
But, Valkenberg psychiatric hospital has a lengthy waiting list, and defence lawyer William Booth said his client was only 67 or 68 on the list.
Novella will remain in the hospital wing of Pollsmoor prison until a bed becomes available.
Spanish interpreter, Marta Behar, expressed frustration at the delays.
She stopped being a court interpreter two years ago, but was specifically asked to return for the Novella case because of the seriousness of the offence.
African News Agency
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