NPA 'dropped the ball' over Deveney Nel accused - Karyn Maughan (News24)
The 17-year-old Deveney Nel murder accused was previously suspected of the violent rape of an 11-year-old girl.
The late Overberg High School pupil, Deveney Nel. Picture: Facebook/Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation
News24 journalist Karyn Maughan joins Clarence Ford.
Listen below.
It has emerged that a psychiatrist who once assessed the teenager accused of the murder of schoolgirl Deveney Nel had warned that he was high-risk.
The youth, who cannot be named, was accused of the rape of a young girl four years ago.
He denied the attack.
ALSO READ: 'From a rapist to a murderer': Teen accused in Deveny Nel murder faced rape charge in 2020
"There was this very, very violent alleged rape incident involving an 11-year-old child, who was with him at a holiday camp with his family."
- Karyn Maughan, Journalist - News24
"There's evidence that she was asphixiated multiple times. She's then thrown unconscious into a river and when she's discovered, her body and face are convered in contusions."
- Karyn Maughan, Journalist - News24
"Because he was a minor, there's a question of criminal capacity... he then has to be psychiatrically assessed... can be he held accountable in a criminal trial? ... did he know what he was doing was wrong?"
- Karyn Maughan, Journalist - News24
The Valkenberg Hospital doctors who assessed the boy at the time said they didn't believe that he had criminal capacity, due to various cognitive issues.
They recommended the boy not be put on trial, but that the matter should be referred to a Children's Court Inquiry.
"What that means is that the Department of Social Development is then brought in... they then do an evaluation, like what are the risk factors with this person..."
- Karyn Maughan, Journalist - News24
Maughan says that the process could potentially have resulted in the boy being institutionalised.
More than that says Maughan, it would have red-flagged the boy to the relevant educational facilities.
"None of that happened... and in the view of this young victim's mother, it cost Deveney Nel her life."
- Karyn Maughan, Journalist - News24
The 16-year-old Nel's body was discovered on 14 August in a locked school storeroom at Overberg High School. She had been stabbed to death.
The 17-year-old accused has appeared before Caledon Magistrates Court, charged with murder.
ALSO READ: Rights of teen suspect in Deveney Nel murder case explained
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