South African lawyers representing the woman accused of murdering Monifieth grandmother Sandra Malcolm are seeking a second opinion on her “state of mind”.
Mrs Malcolm, 74, was found dead by her grandson in her Cape Town home in what was a suspected robbery-gone-wrong.
Mrs Malcolm’s family have faced months of delays since the woman accused of the crime, Sheree Prince, was arrested and made her first court appearance in May last year.
Prince was recently found fit to stand trial for the killing, but prosecutors have now confirmed the teenager’s legal team have decided to appeal the decision.
The delay means a second psychiatric hearing will now not be held until October 28.
A spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa confirmed “The accused was found fit to stand trial, but the legal representatives of the accused are seeking a second opinion on her state of mind.
“The accused spent time in the queue waiting for a bed at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.
“The matter has again been postponed to October 28 2016 for the medical report.”
Delays were initially caused by changes to Prince’s legal representation, appointed by the Legal Aid Board of South Africa.
Mrs Malcolm was from Monifieth but had lived in South Africa for 35 years.
In April 2015 her body was discovered by her grandson in her home at Marina Da Gama, Cape Town.
An autopsy undertaken by the South African authorities established the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.
Speaking shortly after the killing, Mrs Malcolm’s nephew Colin Chalmers said the family had been left “distraught” by the murder.
He said his parents, Sandra’s sister and brother-in-law, were devastated.
Prince was later arrested and made her first appearance at Muizenberg Magistrates Court on May 11.
The teenager is understood to be from the small town of Citrusdal, around 100 miles north of Cape Town.
