Cape Town - The State on Tuesday served former police officer Richard Smit with a high court indictment after he was refused bail by the Piketberg Magistrate’s Court in July.
Smit has been charged with six counts, including the murder of his girlfriend and the attempted murder of Roslin Kaaiman, after he allegedly used his SAPS-issued service pistol to open fire at a family gathering in broad daylight.
Thirty-two-year-old mother Natasha Booise was in a relationship with Smit when he allegedly killed her on January 2.
Further charges against Smit relate to driving under the influence of alcohol, pointing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and assault.
The matter has now been transferred to the Western Cape High Court where Smit will make his next appearance for a pre-trial conference on November 25.
Booise was enjoying a Sunday afternoon with her family in Piketberg when Smit approached her on the Main Road in his blue Renault vehicle.
According to the State, there were two female passengers in Smit’s vehicle when he called Booise over.
It is alleged that after Booise came closer to the vehicle, the pair spoke briefly as their interaction quickly escalated to an argument.
The indictment reads: “The vehicle stopped close to the deceased.
“The accused called the deceased and she approached the vehicle.
“He demanded to know why she had not answered her phone.
“The accused then proceeded to grab the deceased’s hand. A verbal altercation ensued whereafter the deceased managed to get away.
“While she was walking away from the accused, he proceeded to fire several shots in her direction as well as the direction of Roslin Kaaiman,” it says.
The State alleges that Smit followed Kaaiman to a nearby petrol station as she tried to flee where he pointed his 9mm service pistol at her.
A blood alcohol report compiled after Smit was arrested showed the concentration of alcohol in his system was four times the legal limit.
A post-mortem report showed Booise died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Video footage of the incident has also been obtained by the State.