A former senior police officer attached to the Women and Child Protection Unit in Keetmanshoop abandoned his court-ordered psychological evaluation by a private psychiatrist, as the doctor they approached is not a psychiatrist.

Boris “Die Bek” Isaacks, the lawyer of former detective Morgan Brian Plaatjie, informed Windhoek High Court Judge Christi Liebenberg they are no longer seeking an assessment by a private psychiatrist. 

Plaatjie was already seen by a state psychiatrist, who declared him fit to stand trial.

He is facing one charge of housebreaking with the intent to murder and murder, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act; one count of attempted murder, two counts of contravening the Combating of Domestic Violence Act – contravening a protection order – one count of assault by threat and one count of malicious damage to property, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act. 

It is alleged by the State that from 25 to 26 June 2021 in Keetmanshoop, the accused broke down the front door of Yvette Sharon Louw’s house by kicking open the door with the intent to murder her, and he did then and there unlawfully and intentionally killed Louw by stabbing her several times with a knife. 

The attempted murder charge relates to an incident on the same date when he unlawfully and intentionally assaulted Dawid Jansen by stabbing him multiple times with the intention to murder him. 

With regards to contravening a protection order, it is alleged that Plaatjie contravened the provisions of a protection order Louw had taken out against him on two occasions. 

The assault by threat charge is in relation to an incident when Plaatjie allegedly threatened to kill or beat her in circumstances where she believed he had the intention and means to carry out his threat, and caused her to flee her residence. 

The malicious damage charge reflects an incident when he unlawfully and intentionally destroyed her TV set.

According to the summary of substantial facts in the indictment, the accused and Louw were involved in a romantic relationship, and had two children together.

 However, two years before her death, she terminated the relationship and moved into her residence in Keetmanshoop’s Tseiblaagte residential area. 

Due to ongoing assaults and threats of assault by Plaatjie, Louw applied and obtained a protection order against him that was valid until August 2022. 

He, however, violated the protection order on 7 May 2021 when he came to her house, insulted and threatened her, and damaged her TV set. 

She opened a criminal case against him, and he was arrested and granted bail. 

It is further stated that the accused again went to Louw’s house during the late-night hours of 25 June 2021, where he found her and her new boyfriend, Jansen.

 He started stabbing the boyfriend, causing him to flee. 

He, thereafter, proceeded to attack Louw by stabbing her several times with a knife, causing her to seek shelter. 

The accused allegedly broke down the front door and the door of the toilet, where she had locked herself, and continued stabbing the victim until she collapsed. 

He then called the police and reported that he ‘killed’ her. 

The police arrived and took her to the hospital, where she died there due to blood loss and injuries caused by the stab wounds. 

Plaatjie remains in custody at the Seeis police station.