Sedgefield hammer murder: Sean Kelly back in the dock
Sean Kelly, 50, is facing a charge of murder after Noreen Hampson, 67, succumbed to injuries inflicted by a hammer outside her 16 Marigold Street home on February 2 this year – TALIA DAY reports
The scene of the crime had been described by witnesses at the time as bearing the marks of extreme violence [read Sedgefield shocked by violent hammer murder of local lady’ on page 3 of the February 6 edition at www.cxpress.co.za].
Kelly is also facing a host of other charges including resisting arrest, assault, and malicious damage to property.
Hampson died outside her home after sustaining multiple head injuries, which were allegedly inflicted with a hammer. In a surprising turn of events, Kelly has admitted to the murder of Hampson during his first bail hearing on February 14.
Kelly also admitted to the charge of resisting arrest, however, he claimed that it was not first-degree murder, as there had been no pre-meditation involved” prior to the murder.
“I admit right now before this court that I did kill Noreen,” he said at the time. “But it was not murder, as there was no premeditation whatsoever.”
Kelly will represent himself, as he did not qualify for public representation. His bail was denied during a second hearing, and the case was set to start on March 29.
At his second appearance before the court, Kelly stood in front of the judge briefly before the case was postponed again to April 30, when the accused requested to make a short statement.
Kelly claimed that he had been evaluated by a psychiatrist from George, who recommended that he be evaluated at Valkenberg, the state’s psychiatric hospital. The case was then postponed again to May 16.
On that day last month, the state requested a final remand for further investigation. The appeal was granted and the case was postponed again to Friday, June 21 when, five months after the murder, it is hoped that the hearing finally gets underway in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court.