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Upington - The murderer of a Northern Cape nurse cut open her stomach in what was described as a satanic ritual, before writing the number 35 in blood on the back door of her flat, Netwerk24 reported on Wednesday.
“I am the Lord,” her attacker, who has now been dubbed the Gordonia Butcher by the community, allegedly shouted while he brutally killed Katrina Jagers, 50, witnesses said.
On Tuesday emotional scenes played out outside the court in Upington where friends, family and colleagues of the slain nurse gathered for the first appearance of the suspect.
The tension inside the packed courtroom was tangible when Devon Ovies, 25, entered at about 11:45, dressed in a white jacket and blue pants.
It took a mere five minutes for the case to be postponed to May 12 for a formal bail application.
‘No bail for the accused’
Jagers and Ovies were both employed at the local Dr Harry Surtie Hospital. She was a sister in the paediatric unit.
After the court case, a woman who had witnessed the crime scene started sobbing uncontrollably before fainting and had to be supported by friends.
“I still see everything happen in front of me," she said earlier while waiting for the suspect to be brought to court.
Another witness said she saw her (Katrina) running.
“At first I didn't know who it was. I thought it was a younger girl.
“When I got to the parking area, I realised it was her.
“He jumped on her and hit her and we shouted 'Stop it, stop it'.
“We were only a few metres away when the man turned around and lifted his arm. I saw the knife when the blade reflected in the moonlight," she said.
“It was dark there. When I saw the knife, I shouted ‘run, he has a knife!’”
‘Like a satanic ritual’
The woman said the attacker cut open Jagers's stomach and pulled out her intestines.
“He wrote a code - 35 - with her blood on the back door of her flat.
“It was like a satanic ritual. One of the neighbours allegedly heard the attacker scream ‘Jy vat al lank gat’, (you have been on the run for a long time) and ‘Ek is die Here’ (I am the Lord).”
A group of nursing personnel from the hospital protested outside court, carrying placards calling for “Geen borg vir die Gordonia-slagter nie” (no bail for the Gordonia butcher).
The women, who refused to give their names because they said they were "fearful", hid their faces behind their placards when pictures were taken.
Jagers's sons, Brandon and Jakobus, and her daughter Fridoline Beukes, were also supported at court by friends and colleagues.
