2016-07-22Staff Report 2 Windhoek Judge Nate Ndauendapo has been allocated the trial of Johny Ryno Diergaardt whom the State accuses of having stabbed his girlfriend at least 27 times in front of her four-year-old son. Judge Christi Liebenberg yesterday informed Diergaardt during his latest pre-trial conference that his case has been postponed to July 27 for Judge Ndauendapo to determine the trial dates. The judge was also informed the psychiatric report for Diergaardt was ready and that he was found mentally fit to stand trial. Boris Isaacks, the private lawyer of Johny Ryno Diergaardt, the accused, requested the court to order Diergaardt to undergo psychiatric observation to determine his mental capability to stand trial during an earlier pre-trial conference. Deputy Prosecutor General Antonia Verhoef informed the court that Diergaardt underwent psychiatric observation and he was found to be mentally fit. Diergaardt is charged with the murder of Tiffany Tanita Lewin on March 3, 2014 at the room he rented at Erf 427, Garnet Street in Khomasdal. According to the indictment, Lewin and her son arrived during the early evening hours to collect some property which the accused earlier the same day removed from her handbag. He stabbed her at least 27 times with knives after which he fled the scene, according to the prosecution.. Newspaper reports at the time indicated a four-year-old boy tried to intervene and managed to stab the accused on his upper thigh in an attempt to stop the accused from continuing to stab his mother. The deceased died on the scene due to excessive blood loss. The accused was arrested when he returned to his room later that night. 2016-07-22Staff Report 2
