Cape Town - Perplexed by the accused’s alleged mental state, the mother of slain Xavier Mitchell, 5, expressed her disbelief and confusion as she questioned how her son’s alleged murderer could be deemed “psychotic”.
Sylvia Mitchell said this as Mervyn White appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the murder of Xavier, who was stabbed to death on August 7.
Before his court appearance, White was first sent to the District Surgeon at Karl Bremer Hospital, where the court was told that he suffered from some kind of psychosis.
He had spoken about aeroplanes, and that he was not aware of the murder.
Magistrate Sean Lea said according to the evaluation from the hospital, the defendant didn’t understand the charge.
“He showed symptoms of psychosis and he didn’t have a good judgement of what was happening. He was delusional and also seemed out of touch with reality,” the magistrate said.
The court referred White to Valkenberg Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and he will be in the dock again on September 18.
Outside the court, the supporters of Xavier’s family gathered with photos of the slain boy.
His mom said: “I felt angry because the accused was standing in the dock and smiling the whole time. What about my child who is no longer with us? But he can stand up in court and smile...
“I don’t know about the psychosis, because during the election time, he was speaking well. He knew how to ask his family for his ID. And now he is talking about aeroplanes with the doctors. He’s not aware of what he did? But he was aware when he was stabbing my child,” she said.
The heartbroken mother said she had not heard anything from the nanny, whose brother White is and is whose care the boy was.
“I have not heard from her, she has not come to my house to explain what happened. She didn’t go to the memorial service, or to Xavier’s funeral.
“When she sees me, she walks in a different direction and that is making me suspicious, like there is something that she knows; she’s hiding something, something is not right…
“I want her to come to me and tell me what happened. I’m Xavier’s mother, I need to know. I never thought such a thing would happen to me.”
Xavier was stabbed three times with a knife in the back.
It is alleged his caregiver had gone to the toilet and left Xavier with the suspect, and when she returned, the child had been stabbed.
The accused fled the scene but was caught by community members.