Henderson trial: No data retrieved from confiscated cellphone

THE STATE will send a cellphone belonging to murder accused John-Ross Crossbery Henderson for further analysis by an expert after no information was found on the device.

Henderson appeared in court on October 14 for a pre-trial readiness assessment, as the State is still awaiting outstanding evidence.

The trial, relating to the murder of Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique and the attempted murder of his wife, Micayla Afrique, is scheduled to start in the Northern Cape High Court from October 20 to 24.

The Afriques were shot at while entering the driveway of their home in New Park on July 31, 2024.

State advocate Theunis Barnard said that three cellphones were sent for forensic analysis.

“We are still waiting for the report on one of the cellphones. The State will send the cellphone from which no data was obtained to another expert who is able to retrieve data, even if it has been deleted. One of the cellphones was password-protected. The records of two of the cellphones that were subpoenaed were submitted to SAPS cellphone analyst Colonel Conradie,” Barnard said.

He added that the State was ready to proceed with the trial.

“We have finalised an outstanding witness statement and have provided it to the defence.”

Henderson’s legal representative, Herholdt Robertson, pointed out that the State could not claim to be trial-ready while there were still outstanding reports, more than a year after the alleged offence.

Northern Cape High Court Judge Almé Stanton postponed the matter until Monday and ordered that Henderson remain in custody.