LOOK: Bevan van Druten appears in court for murder of Nicky van Heerden

Wearing yellow sheepskin slippers, turquoise loose wrap-around trousers and a short-sleeved black top, Garden Route artist Bevan van Druten took to the dock of the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday, accused of the murder of former detective Anneke "Nicky" van Heerden.

Nonchalantly, Van Druten, who also appeared gaunt and dishevelled, with long, greying hair pulled back and a thick, unkempt beard falling to his chest, told the magistrate, Zukiswa Hans, in Afrikaans: “I want to apply for a state lawyer.”

This came after prominent Garden Route attorney Carl Jeppe refused to represent the 53-year-old man, a decision Jeppe himself confirmed.

Van Druten was assigned a Legal Aid attorney, while the state withdrew its request to have him sent to a district surgeon for mental evaluation.

Hans said she had not been informed of the application and was hearing of it for the very first time.

The matter has been postponed to Thursday for Van Druten to bring a formal bail application, which the state is opposing.

The Murder

After being struck from behind, former detective Anneke “Nicky” van Heerden’s face was forced into the sand.

And that is the position in which the 54-year-old was allegedly held as she thrashed and struggled to breathe, sources close to the investigation told IOL.

It was what insiders described as the brutal prelude to her death on January 18, her body found on a sand dune in Plettenberg Bay. 

Next to Van Heerden’s lifeless, injury-riddled form stood a bakkie believed to belong to the man she had introduced to family and friends the night before as the love of her life.

Support for Nicky

The public gallery was packed with grieving family members and friends of Van Heerden — who was also known as Alaska — as well as curious onlookers, some of whom said they had come simply to see and hear the highly publicised case for themselves.

When the matter was postponed, those gathered formed a large circle in the corridors, bowing their heads in prayer.

A small protest was held outside court, with people, mostly dressed in black, holding placards reading "no bail, only jail”.

"We've come to oppose bail," said Van Heerden's friend, Mariella Rossi.

"We're saying with the numerous protection orders and this much background, we feel, it would be prudent to refuse bail.

"She didn't deserve to die so brutally."

Samantha Cartwright, who claimed to have been harassed by Van Druten herself, said she wanted to make sure justice prevailed.

Cartwright had been friends with Van Heerden for three years.

"I want there to be no bail given and the accused to remain in jail," the 39-year-old said.

"I am here as support and being a body for the victims that are not emotionally stable to be here right now.

"It's very sad that we lost Alaska.

"Until we get a police report, an autopsy on this situation, everything is speculation and none of us actually know what happened at the scene."

Claudia Waller, 32, said she was there to show her support for efforts to end gender-based violence.

“I’m here to stand against gender-based violence and to show that women are not alone,” Waller said.

“Too many cases like this are ignored, and I didn’t want to stay silent.”

Alec Gandy, 32, said: “I felt it was important to be here today.

"Alaska did not deserve this."

Michael Badenhorst, 31, said: “What happened to her is something that keeps happening, and people need to see that it matters.”

Van Heerden's brother-in-law Hein Bruwer said the family was present to support one another and to show their love for her.

“We loved her very much and she was full of life,” Bruwer, who is also the family spokesman, said.

“She always brought light into our lives and those around her.

"We are heartbroken by what has happened and we cannot comment on the merits of the case."

Van Heerden's 88-year-old father was also present.

He appeared distraught. 

According to insiders, what happened on the day of Van Heerden’s death was "intense and violent".

She is believed to have been struck from behind, after which her head was forced into the sand for so long that sand was found in her mouth. Her nose was also reportedly injured during the attack.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Chris Spies said he could not comment on the allegations, adding the matter was before court and would have to take its course.

As previously reported, multiple women have now come forward saying they took out protection orders against Van Druten prior to his arrest.

Copies of protection orders, seen by IOL, show the Knysna Magistrate’s Court granted both interim and final orders under the Domestic Violence Act and the Protection from Harassment Act.

In some cases, warrants for arrest were authorised when orders were breached.

The women painted a picture of repeated alleged abuse, with several saying they were afraid to run into Van Druten and the behaviour had left them anxious and on edge.

Van Heerden, who lived in Knysna, was also believed to have sent a strange, incoherent 10-minute voice note shortly before her death.

In the rambling message, Van Heerden appeared agitated and manic as she addressed people who, she said, were supporting a man she described as an enemy of Van Druten by following his WhatsApp group.

She urged them to stop following what she referred to as the “demon of lizards” and to follow Van Druten instead.

The recording was sent to several WhatsApp contacts and has been described by some as "disturbing".

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