Hammer death: accused to be evaluated

THE state has requested that a man accused of brutally beating an elderly woman and her son to death with a hammer be sent for psychiatric evaluation.

State advocate Jason Thysse asked yesterday that Morne van der Linden, 29, be referred to Fort England Psychiatric Hospital for observation in February.

Van der Linden appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court where the case was postponed to early next year.

He is accused of murdering his wife's grandmother, Catherine Stofberg, 79, and her son, Kenneth Morar, 54, in their Salsoneville, Port Elizabeth, home on August 9.

Van der Linden was arrested just hours after the incident after he allegedly told a family member what had happened.

Van der Linden abandoned his bail application in September, but yesterday indicated that he again wished to apply for bail.

He also confirmed that he planned to plead guilty to the charges against him.

But Thysse said it was necessary to refer him to Fort England before the state made the arrangements for the case to be referred to the Port Elizabeth High Court.

Lenneth Morar said the family was struggling to come to terms with the loss of his mother and brother. "I still wake up every night [at about midnight], the time it happened," he said.

"We will be glad when all this is over but I understand the need for him to be mentally evaluated. We want this case done properly. If this is the way, we are prepared to wait."

Yesterday, a small group of DA Women's Network (Dawn) members were at the court to follow proceedings.

Ward councillor Anne du Plessis said she was following the matter as the double murder had occurred in her ward.

The case was postponed to February 1, as a bed at Fort England for Van der Linden is awaited.

He will remain in custody until his next court appearance. - Lee-Anne Butler