An Elizabeth Donkin Psychiatric Hospital patient who allegedly killed his roommate appeared briefly in the Gqeberha magistrate’s court on Friday after being examined by a district surgeon.
Erin-Jade Fillis, 21, accused of murdering Gradwell Jordaan, 36, has been referred for psychiatric evaluation at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda.
He is expected in court next month, when the state will update the court on bed availability at the institution.
Fillis was arrested last month after he allegedly beat Jordaan to death.
They had been sharing a room at the Forest Hill hospital.
According to the charge sheet, Fillis kicked Jordaan and hit his head against a wall and a gate at about 5.30pm on January 27.
Jordaan was declared dead after he arrived at Livingstone Hospital three hours after the incident.
It is understood Jordaan had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Fillis was being treated for drug addiction.
Fillis was arrested on January 29 and made his first court appearance two days later.
On Friday, Fillis was sent for an assessment by a district surgeon before he appeared in court.
In the report by the district surgeon, which was read into the record by prosecutor Melani Hammett, it was stated that Fillis admitted he had killed someone and that he knew why he was in court.
The report stated that Fillis had been restless when examined and had avoided answering questions.
By agreement between the state and Fillis’s lawyer, Brian Miles, the matter was postponed to March 8.
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