Accused husband killer Zurenah Smit breaks down in court
Court halted as Zurenah Smit broke down recounting her husband Stefan Smit's 2019 murder.
Image: Chevon Booysen
Court proceedings ground to a halt in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday morning when accused husband killer Zurenah Smit broke down inconsolably as she was made to recount the fateful night.
On Wednesday morning Smit was being led by her defence attorney Susan Kuun with regard to the murder charge she faces.
It was Zurenah's testimony that she and Stefan were having supper with a friend on the evening of the murder when she said they heard “a huge noise”.
Again assisted by a court translator due to her being inaudible, Zurenah told the court: “I heard…I saw this dark side of someone rushing…screaming ‘money where is the money?’. And I screamed.
“Later in my nightmares, I remember being strangled (and) being lifted off my feet. I remember being pulled up from the floor and being thrown down beside Amelia,” said Zurenah before she started sobbing in the witness stand.
Zurenah Smit collapsed in tears during her murder trial testimony when recounting the night of her husband's death, forcing court proceedings to halt and prompting authorities to place paramedics on standby for future hearings. The emotional breakdown raised concerns about further delays in the high-profile case of the Stellenbosch farmer's murder.
Image: Chevon Booysen
Proceedings were halted briefly for her to compose herself however the matter was adjourned due to Zurenah being unable to continue testimony in her emotional state.
The matter will resume on Thursday morning with paramedics on standby at the State's request
State Prosecutor Renee Uys said they had a concern on how long it would take to conclude the matter if it continued at “this snail's pace”.
Uys submitted two options to ensure that Zurenah would be in a position to continue her testimony which included either having her bail revoked and have her admitted to an alternative address in accordance with a section 68 application under the Criminal Procedures Act.
Alternatively Uys requested the assistance of paramedics to be present at court tomorrow when Zurenah is expected to continue her testimony. Judge Wille granted the latter request.
During the adjournment Zurenah could be heard sobbing inconsolably and at one point said “I can't breathe”.
She was assisted by court translator Nomfundo Damon and her advocate, Kuun.
“My Lord, you weren't privy to it but whilst we were in court (during adjournment), none of us left the court and there were serious indications of serious illnesses which could obviously, once again, curtail proceedings.
“I request the court to assist us with that so that we can expedite the trial continuing. I understand that it will only be for two hours but at least then we can make use of the full two hours,” submitted Uys.
The matter will resume on Thursday morning at 10am.
Court proceedings in the Stellenbosch farm murder case ground to a halt when Zurenah Smit, accused of arranging her husband's killing, became overwhelmed while testifying about the night of his death.
Image: Chevon Booysen
Meanwhile, before Zurenah resumed giving testimony, a medical referral letter was handed up to court. It detailed that she attended Lady Michaelis Clinic in Plumstead on Tuesday. The referral letter noted that Zurenah presented with “ongoing symptoms” following her recent three-day observation at Victoria Hospital but it was confirmed she was in a position to testify.
Zurenah, alongside her co-accused Derek Sait, is accused of killing 62-year-old Stellenbosch farmer Stefan Smit and having the murder look like a robbery.
Western Cape High Court Judge Derek Wille, who granted the state's request for paramedics to be present at the next hearing following Zurenah Smit's emotional collapse.
Image: Chevon Booysen
Previously the court heard that Zurenah and a guest were unscathed in the apparent attack. She became a person of interest in the murder after she was left out of Smit’s will, which was altered in 2018 when more than R200,000 was stolen from his safe, including Kruger Rand coins and a firearm.
Earlier this week, Zurenah maintained her innocence when she made bare denials of being involved with robberies and the 2019 murder carried out at Louisenhof Farm where she lived with slain Stefan. Accused of being the mastermind of the murder earlier this week, answering to the count of conspiracy to commit murder, she denied offering money to anybody to have her husband killed.
She also denied using sleeping tablets to drug her husband in order to gain access to a safe.