Cape Town - The man accused of murdering SPCA veterinarian Dr Natheem Jacobs has pleaded not guilty at the Wynberg Regional Court as his family prays for justice.
Nearly two years after the horrific fatal attack in Garlandale, his alleged killer, Jovan Williams has denied any involvement.
Relatives gathered at the courtroom on Friday, anticipating how he would be pleading after initially admitting to stabbing Jacobs.
Williams pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances.
Jacobs died in hospital on March 2 2023 after being stabbed during a scuffle outside his home.
He had caught Williams trying to steal the wheels from his wife’s car which was parked outside their Garlandale home.
Williams subsequently went on the run but dropped his cellphone at the crime scene and police carried out a hunt for him.
Months after searching for him, Lieutenant-Colonel Adrian Pretorius turned to the Cape Argus sister newspaper, the Daily Voice, for help and shortly after Williams’ picture was published, he handed himself over to the police.
In his first two appearances, it was revealed that on the scene investigators found the wheelie bin the group had used to transport the stolen wheels, a backpack with tools and a cellphone.
The cellphone containing Williams' details was also found at the scene.
It was also revealed he had previous convictions for the illegal possession of ammunition, drugs and malicious damage to property.
During court proceedings, Williams ignored the warning from the Magistrate about speaking about the merits of the State’s case before going on trial and placed himself at the murder scene.
Williams claimed he randomly came across a backpack and the wheelie bin in the middle of the street and used the light of his cellphone to look inside the bin and saw the wheels.
He said he was suddenly surrounded by three men and admitted to stabbing ‘someone’.
Natheem’s heartbroken mother, Zulykha said: ‘It was very emotional at court as it was the first time that his wife attended proceedings.
“The Magistrate explained as she is a State witness, she may not sit in during the court hearings until she is called.
“We were surprised when he pleaded not guilty to the murder because during his bail hearings he admitted to the stabbing.
“The case was postponed to May 5 where the State is set to start presenting the evidence. We are praying that justice will be served.”