Jackson's court appearance reignites community interest in the Nadine Esterhuizen case

On Monday, the courtroom will once again be the focal point of attention as Corrine Jackson, the estranged girlfriend of the late Nadine Esterhuizen, appears before the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court.

This highly publicised case has captured the community's interest, particularly following the harrowing testimony from forensic pathologist Dr Varushka Bachan in August, who provided chilling details about the crime scene and the injuries sustained by Esterhuizen.

In August, Bachan gave a blow by blow  description of Esterhuizen’s injuries, stating she had seven gaping wounds in her head, and that her sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck, which is the largest muscle in the neck and the jugular vein had been penetrated including defensive stab wounds to the hands and arms.

Dr Bachan said by demonstrating by moving her head in a frontal and bending position, that the killer had to be higher than the victim, in order to inflict the wounds and that it was possible to behead her.

Bachan also began looking at the blood splatter pattern via photographs and placed the court right at the crime scene in Colorado Park which took place in September 2017.

As the trial resumes, Jackson's legal team is expected to present an expert witness to challenge the evidence presented by the state, particularly concerning the blood splatter analysis that has been a focal point of the prosecution's case. The emotional weight of the proceedings has left many in the Mitchells Plain community reeling, as they grapple with the tragic circumstances surrounding Esterhuizen's death.

Members of the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum and local residents are anticipated to be present in the courtroom, reflecting the impact this case has had on the community. 

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