We want to see suspect’s face, say slain girl’s family
Outburst as Micheala Adriaanse’s alleged killer in court
IN AN emotional outburst, Samuel Sampson shouted and pointed from the courtroom gallery at the man in the dock accused of raping and murdering his young niece, Micheala Adriaanse. “(You, Noble),” Sampson shouted to Bradley Noble, 36, of Coniston Park, near Steenberg, as Noble was escorted from the courtroom following his first appearance in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Sampson was soon reprimanded by magistrate Yusuf Kamedien, who said he knew “it was an emotional affair” and that emotions were high, but warned Sampson that Noble was entitled to a fair trial and that the outbursts would not be tolerated.
Outside court, Sampson admitted that his emotions had got the better of him as the murder of his 16-year-old niece at the weekend had severely affected the family.
Noble was taken in for questioning late on Sunday in connection with the murder after Micheala’s body was found in the mountains above Kalk Bay that morning.
Yesterday, he emerged from the holding cells in a black-patterned, hooded top, grey T-shirt and black tracksuit pants. In the gallery a group of Micheala’s relatives wiped their eyes and became emotional as he stepped into the dock and stood with arms folded across his chest, looking ahead.
The court told Noble he was accused of very serious offences and that he should consider having a legal representative. Noble then opted to apply for a Legal Aid attorney. A Legal Aid attorney was not present and prosecutor Diedre Julius asked that the matter be postponed.
Julius said there were witnesses who linked Noble to Micheala before he was arrested.
The State will oppose bail. Julius asked that the matter be postponed for Noble to apply for Legal Aid and for the State to compile a bail profile, since they needed to gather information on his criminal record.
She asked that Noble be held at Fish Hoek police station’s holding cells rather than Pollsmoor, because he needed to be taken to the crime scene.
Kamedien postponed the matter to April 1.
Outside court, relatives said they came to court to get a glimpse of Noble.
Micheala’s older sister, Antonia Pieters, had come “just to see his face”.
Her voice cracked and she burst into tears as she spoke. “I wanted to see him… she was only 16,” she said. “It’s hit our family in a big way, it’s a big tragedy.”
Her parents have been left traumatised by the incident and have been unable to talk to the media.
Micheala, who attended Crystal Secondary School in Hanover Park, went missing on Thursday when she and four friends headed to Muizenberg for the day. She separated from her friends and was not seen again.
SHE WAS ONLY 16. IT’S HIT OUR FAMILY IN A BIG WAY, IT’S A BIG TRAGED