Court warns Nicolas Le Roux to seek legal representation in Westville murder case

A Durban man, accused of the murder of his wife, was warned in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Wednesday to get legal representation due to the serious charges against him.

Magistrate Stan Miloszewski told former SANDF special forces soldier Nicolas Le Roux, 67, that he needed to get a lawyer. This was after Legal Aid attorney Mandisi Mathebula told the court that he was withdrawing from the case as Le Roux did not qualify for Legal Aid. 

Le Roux is charged with the murder of his wife, Taryn, who was shot dead at a Westville restaurant last month,

Le Roux told the court that he was abandoning his bail application and would appeal the decision made by Legal Aid, as he was a contract worker and therefore should qualify under the means test.

Addressing Le Roux, Magistrate Miloszewski advised him that he needed an attorney.

“Premeditated murder is not a charge that you can defend yourself against. It's very serious. The High Court will not accept you defending yourself. Since law is not your domain.”

He told Le Roux that the minimum sentence for premeditated murder is life imprisonment.

“If you are to meet that consequence, you need someone who is legally trained. It's a tough and dark world when you are sitting there alone,” he said. 

However, Le Roux, who was composed and showed no emotion, insisted on continuing with his appeal.

“I have a letter from my employer that states that I will no longer be receiving a salary because I was a contract worker,” Le Roux told the court. 

Magistrate Miloszewski told him that the Legal Aid board would take approximately four to six weeks to make a decision, which could delay his matter, but Le Roux said he would wait. 

Prosecutor Cameron Roode told the court that he had been informed that the appeal process would be undertaken on Le Roux's behalf by an individual he referred to as Mr Potgieter. 

“Mr Potgieter has been given power of attorney by the accused, and he (Potgieter) told me that they will appeal Legal Aid's decision.” 

Le Roux is also facing charges of handling a firearm under the influence of a substance, possession of a firearm or ammunition with intent to cause an offence or resist arrest, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Le Roux was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to November for the appeal decision from Legal Aid as well as for further investigation.