Cape Town - Hundreds of mourners gathered in Bishop Lavis at the weekend to say their final farewells to slain 5-year-old Xavier Mitchell, who was laid to rest.
More than a week after his murder, Xavier’s alleged killer is set to return to the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court today amid a referral to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.
Mervyn White was brought to court on Friday morning after being discharged from hospital as he was assaulted by angry residents, where he was informed he would be referred.
At the time of Xavier’s murder, it was revealed that White is the brother of Xavier’s nanny.
Police said the suspect, who is in his 40s and said to suffer from a mental disorder, reportedly had a psychotic episode when Xavier was stabbed three times in the back with a knife.
It is alleged that his caregiver had gone to the toilet and left Xavier with the suspect, and when she returned, the child had been stabbed. After the stabbing, the suspect ran away but the community apprehended before calling the cops. Speaking to the Cape Argus after the funeral, father Ricardo Mitchell said the family was overwhelmed by the support that they received.
“We buried him on Saturday and more than 400 people came out to send him off. The taxi bosses even gave the use of taxis away for free because although we had two buses it wasn’t enough for all the people who came.
“We are grateful that we could give him a beautiful send-off.”
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus