Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Trial of man who ‘killed’ his wife is dragging on
A MAN accused of stabbing his wife 30 times in front of their five-year-old daughter is fighting to stay out of jail as the case has reached its eighth year.
The trial is currently under way in the Mitchells Plain Regional Court where Donovan Titus is charged with the August 2015 murder of his wife Candice Titus at their Mitchells Plain home.
The couple’s daughter is a key state witness.
On the fateful night, Donovan sustained stab wounds to his body and was treated medically. He was fed via a tube and was heavily sedated.
The State aims to prove Donovan stabbed Candice repeatedly and apparently sent text messages to a male relative about what he had done.
Linda Jones of the Mitchells Plain Residents Association said the case had been dragging on for years and that the family deserved justice.
Jones has been attending proceedings. She said Donovan had to consider his daughter, who was also a victim.
“They are trying to find the doctor who worked at Groote Schuur Hospital and she no longer works there. The case is still a trial within a trial, which is sad state of affairs,” said Jones.
“He pleaded not guilty and said he can’t remember,” she said.
“I want to just say to the accused and his defence, be it as it may, he knows the truth and so does God.
“But above all of this, his young child bears witness to this horrific event and if not for anyone else, he should consider the effect it has on his child and their relationship.”
Siya Monakali of Ilitha Labantu, an organisation which advocates for the rights of women and children, said they were calling for intervention by authorities to see that cases drag on for years.
“We are deeply concerned by the
high number of gender-based violence and femicide rates that drag on without any conviction,” he said.
“We cannot claim to be making any real progress in the fight against the scourge if our justice system continues to fail victims of gender-based violence.
“As an organisation we strongly appeal to the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for an urgent intervention in cases of this nature.”
Candice’s family could not be reached for comment.
The case reached a state of a trial within a trial via a medical report and notes which had been written by a woman doctor who had seen Donovan while he was a patient at Groote Schuur Hospital.
It is alleged Donovan had allegedly spoken about the merits of the case to the doctor.
Donovan has since denied speaking to the doctor and said he had only spoken with his lawyer about the case.
He said he had experienced periods of confusion, hallucinations and dizziness while being on morphine.
The hearing continues.