On Monday, Stephan Pretorios pleaded not guilty to the murder of his estranged wife. (Photo: Isabel Venter / Maroela Media).
The trial of Stephan Pretorius, who is charged with the murder of his wife, Charlene Pretorius, continued this week in the magistrate’s court in Pretoria with emotional testimony by Charlene’s son, Jason Venter.
According to Action Society, the charges relate to the incident on 27 May 2023 when petrol was allegedly poured over Charlene at the family home in Pretoria North and set on fire. She later died of her injuries in hospital.
Jason testified this week about the events of his mother’s death, as well as about the circumstances in the household before the incident.
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Stephan Pretorius in the magistrate’s court in Pretoria North (Photo: Anja van der Merwe/Maroela Media)
Action Society says Stephan Pretorius was seen laughing during parts of the testimony in court while Jason described the events of his mother’s death.
Jason’s friend, Ian Manuel, also testified on Friday. According to Action Society, his testimony supported Jason’s account of what happened when they later found Pretorius on the side of the highway.
Juanita du Preez, operations manager of Action Society, says the testimony has once again highlighted the devastating and long-lasting effects of domestic violence on families.
“The proceedings this week continued to expose the deeply traumatic environment in which Charlene and her children apparently lived for years before her death,” says Du Preez.
According to her, Jason’s testimony provided insight into allegations of violence and intimidation in the household, as well as the emotional burden that surviving family members carry when they have to relive these events in court almost three years later.
Du Preez says the case also shows how complex and emotionally charged cases of domestic violence become when they reach the trial stage, especially where there are disputes about forensic findings, evidence and the events that led to the victim’s death.
Action Society representatives who attended the court proceedings say the emotional toll on Jason was visible when painful family experiences were revisited in detail.
“Action Society remains committed to supporting the family and closely monitoring the case to ensure that the legal process is conducted thoroughly and professionally and that all relevant facts are placed before the court,” says Du Preez.
The case is expected to continue in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court next week.