Kimberley - The former legal representative for Don Steenkamp, 18, who was convicted in 2014 for the murder of his family as well as the rape of his younger sister, Marthella, is taking legal steps to recover money that is owed to him.
Stoffel de Jager was first appointed as the instructing attorney by Steenkamp’s legal guardian, Bennie Heckroodt.
Don Steenkamp was sentenced to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment for the murder of his father Deon, 44, mother Christel, 43, as well as for the rape and murder of his 14-year-old sister Marthella and defeating the ends of justice.
The Steenkamp family were shot multiple times in their heads and bodies with two firearms that were retrieved from a safe on the family farm Naauwhoek, near Griquatown on Good Friday 2012.
De Jager has refused to disclose the outstanding amount, saying that there was an agreement between him and Div Pretorius from Haarhoffs Attorneys, who appeared on behalf of Heckroodt, not to speak to the media.
Heckroodt was not present in court on Friday.
De Jager, who represented himself, as the claimant, handed over a draft order regarding “monies owed” to Acting Judge Mpho Mamosebo in the motion court in the Northern Cape High Court, requesting that it be made a court order.
The Northern Cape High Court in October 2013 agreed to release R500 000 of an inheritance bequeathed to the accused for the legal costs, that allowed for the trial to proceed.
The funds were released through the last will and testament of Don Steenkamp senior (Don’s grandfather).
The court did not allow any funds that were sourced from the estates of Deon and Christel to cover the legal costs at the time.
Shortly before judgement was supposed to have been handed down in December last year, the legal team consisting of De Jager and advocates Sharon Erasmus and Willem Coetzee was instructed to step down.
It is speculated that the legal fees for the services of an instructing attorney and two defence advocates before their services were terminated, exceeded R1 million.
Other than a “breach of trust and irreconcilable differences” that were cited as the reason for the dismissal of the legal team, no other explanations were provided.
Heckroodt later appointed attorney Riaan Bode to continue with trial.
The appeal against Don’s conviction and 20-year sentence that was handed to him by Northern Cape High Court Judge President Frans Kgomo, will take place in the Northern Cape High Court before a full bench on March 9 and has been set down for one day only.
The accused was transferred from the youth detention centre at the Kimberley Correctional Centre last year to another correctional facility, following allegations that he was enjoying special privileges, including being allowed to have take-away foods in his cell and was permitted to make more phone calls than was prescribed.
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