Shocking details emerged during Rob Evans’s bail appeal, as the state described the scene where his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, was found dead in his Oyster Bay holiday home.
Senior state advocate Marius Stander told the Gqeberha High Court the room was covered in blood. “There was blood everywhere from the curtains to the living room, all the way into the dining room,” he said. “It was as if a seagull’s leg had been amputated and it flew all over the place.”
Van Rensburg’s body was discovered in the early hours of Easter Sunday. She had 23 injuries, including wounds to her chin, neck, hand, and arm. A broken whisky bottle is believed to have been used in the attack.
Gruesome Scene Disputed
Evans’s lawyer, Paul Roelofse, downplayed the description, saying, “Perhaps a seagull just stubbed its toe,” arguing that the scene was not as horrific as the state claimed.
Evans, who owns 60% of Algoa Plastics and is a father of three, was denied bail by the Humansdorp Regional Court on July 9. His appeal was heard this week by Judge Nyameko Gqamana in the Gqeberha High Court.
State Challenges Defence Claims
Stander criticised the defence’s argument that Evans’s decision not to flee should count in his favour.
“If everyone who gets locked up says they knew they were going to be arrested and promises they won’t run, no one would ever stay in jail,” he said. “The fact that he knew he would be arrested is a subjective perception. Each appellant would then argue the same thing.”
The state reminded the court that the charge is a Schedule 6 offence, reserved for serious crimes such as premeditated murder.
