Slain mother ‘wanted son in rehab’
SLAIN former SABC journalist and board member Hope Zinde was on the brink of sending her son for drug rehabilitation days before he allegedly murdered her.
This came out in an affidavit submitted to the Brits Regional Court yesterday by the deceased’s mother, Audrey Zinde.
Her son, Mark Warona Zinde, 23, is accused of murdering her and of being in possession of drugs.
The affidavit was used as a supporting document to a submission made by his defence attorney to have him undergo psychiatric evaluation.
In a packed court gallery, his attorney, Mogorosi Molusi, read out the affidavit written by Hope’s mother.
Audrey Zinde detailed her daughter’s efforts to help her son overcome his addiction. She also pleaded for the courts to allow the accused to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Wearing a navy jacket and white shirt, Mark seemed more aware of his environment than at his first appearance on Monday.
But he appeared slightly confused, looking at the floor while his lawyer read out the affidavit.
Friends and some people believed to be his family were in court to support the seemingly troubled young man.
“As of June 4, 2016, Hope was on the brink of having the accused admitted for treatment and rehabilitation,” Molusi read from the affidavit.
In the document, his grandmother stated that Hope had detailed the reasons why she wanted her son to be admitted to a rehabilitation unit.
“The accused was showing signs of totally being withdrawn, not communicating, bizarre behaviour, locking himself in his room the whole day, being aggressive and violent, as well as being a danger to himself and others,” said Molusi.
Audrey said that her daughter believed Mark was not in a sound and normal state of mind.
She had received a report from her daughter that he had previously been admitted to Vista Clinic in 2013 on account of misuse of drugs.
“The need for rehabilitation gave me the impression that the accused used drugs, which caused him a serious personality and mental change.”
Audrey also referred to a 2014 letter by a Dr Francis Kariuki, a psychiatrist, in which he gave an assessment of the accused.
“I submit that it goes without saying that the accused and Hope were in constant communication about her intentions to get him taken in for rehabilitation,” wrote Audrey.
Zinde was found stuffed in the boot of her car last Saturday after she had gone missing. Magistrate Lourens Mattiah accepted the submissions and affidavits, and postponed the matter to July 18 to allow the accused to undergo psychiatric forensic evaluation at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, pending the availability of a bed.