On 17 March 2023, 18-year-old Cassidy Hartzenberg, who is suspected of killing his aunt, Magistrate Romay van Rooyen, is scheduled to appear before the Cape Town High Court for a pre-trial conference.
Hartzenberg is accused of murdering his aunt and robbing her with aggravating circumstances.
Hartzenberg travelled to Magistrate Romay van Rooyen’s residence in Marina Da Gama, Muizenberg on 9 September 2022.
During the week, Van Rooyen worked and resided in Vredenburg, Western Cape, but returned to her Muizenberg home on weekends and vacations.
Hartzenberg, who resided in Mitchells Plain at the time, borrowed money from a witness on September 9 and requested transportation to his aunt’s residence in Muizenberg.
“Evidence suggests there was an altercation between the accused and the deceased. The deceased’s vehicle was seen leaving the deceased’s residential area in the early hours of 9 September 2022 and was later tracked to Westgate Mall. The vehicle was discovered abandoned in Mitchell’s Plain two days later,” said the State.
Asphyxiation (unnatural) was listed as Van Rooyen’s cause of death. Before being detained, Hartzenberg allegedly served as a pallbearer at the Magistrate’s burial.
Up until today, court procedures have taken place at the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court. On October 6, Hartzenberg withdrew his request for bail.
»Teenager accused of murdering his Magistrate aunt set to appear in Court«