"What about my mom?. Where is she?”
According to the state, Vanessa van Rensburg’s young daughter is reportedly asking that question when other children at school speak about their parents.
State prosecutor, Bianca Burger, on Friday said that the little girl’s behaviour has changed so much since her mother’s passing that the school has opted to pay for her therapy sessions.
“Her kids are suffering,” she said.
"Shame" was the response from businessman and murder accused Rob Evans, who has been charged with the murder of his 36-year-old girlfriend, whose body was found in his Oyster Bay home on Easter Sunday.
“She was a brilliant mother who lived for her children," added Evans, who faces additional charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and obstructing the course of justice.
The co-owner of Algoa Plastics was arrested at his business premises on 9 May and is currently applying for bail in the Humansdorp magistrate's court.
Evans previously testified that Van Rensburg was sometimes an aggressive person and had assaulted him, but her former fiancé said in an affidavit that she was not a violent person.
When asked by the state why he did not attend Van Rensburg’s funeral, Evans said her sister, Claudette, said he was not welcome, but did send him a link to watch online.
The state also read out a WhatsApp message from Van Rensburg to a friend, which was also read out at her funeral, in which she said that money did not make her happy and that she just wanted peace.
In the same message, she also said that she did not need all the luxury that was "thrown" at her and that she did not receive an increase despite all the hard work she put in as an employee at Algoa Plastics.
At this point, her father, Johan van Rensburg, stormed out of the courtroom, visibly angry.
After the state concluded its cross-examination on Friday, Magistrate Deirdré Dickson asked Evans what he would consider exceptional circumstances as one of the conditions for release on bail.
He said he needed to be granted bail so that he could secure a place for his business, adding that crucial business information is required from him. Evans also said that his family needs him.
The matter was remanded to 30 May for the continuation of the application.
Read more: Vanessa murder: State says she fought for her life
