Bellville court sends Aletta Rose for 30-day mental observation over sister's beheading
The 63-year-old, who has a previous murder conviction from 1997, made a brief appearance in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Friday as her family looked on.
A 63-year-old woman accused of killing and decapitating her elderly sister will be taken to Valkenberg Hospital for a 30-day mental observation, a Bellville Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday.
Aletta Rose made a brief appearance in the Cape Town court. Her sister, 79-year-old Constance Scholtz, was found dead at her home in Bellville South earlier this year. Rose was arrested after the discovery in March and remains in custody.
As SABC News reported on 23 October, Rose has a previous murder conviction dating back to 1997. The case was postponed to 24 November.
Scholtz’s son, Menno Rose, spoke to the broadcaster outside court. The Enquirer has not independently verified his remarks and does not repeat them here beyond noting that a family member was present and spoke publicly.
Valkenberg Hospital is a specialist psychiatric facility in Cape Town run by the Western Cape Department of Health. A 30-day observation order under the Criminal Procedure Act allows a court to establish whether an accused person is fit to stand trial and whether they can be held criminally responsible for the conduct alleged. It is a routine procedural step in serious cases where a court has reason to doubt an accused’s mental state. It is not a finding of guilt or innocence, and it does not decide the case.
The matter returns to court on 24 November, when the observation report is expected to be placed before the magistrate.
