Genevieve Serra|Published
The man accused of strangling 17-year-old Amiena Swano to death in Hout Bay and then stuffing her body into a cabinet before attempting to conceal it inside a wheelie bin is asking the state to consider a plea and sentence agreement, stating that he did not want to waste any more time.
Denory Pockpas, 36, dropped a bombshell at the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday, where he appeared alongside his mother, Christine Pockpas, 59, and her boyfriend, Ifraam Silver, 49.
The State is set to prove that Pockpas allegedly murdered Amiena by strangling her after she had visited his home, and that his mother and her boyfriend had apparently assisted him in disposing of her body.
It is further alleged that the trio stuffed her body inside a chest-like cupboard before placing it inside a wheelie bin, and that Christine had apparently tried to clean up traces of the teenager’s blood.
Court warns of possible life sentence
Amiena, a Grade 11 learner, vanished on Valentine’s Day after attending a concert with friends and had been experimenting with the prescription drug Xanax and Coke by creating a cocktail.
Two weeks after the murder, DNA testing confirmed that the body belonged to the teenager.
Inside court, the magistrate became agitated with the accused, who were initially unable to indicate whether they would be appointing legal-aid lawyers.
Pockpas, the first accused, indicated that he wished to represent himself and declined legal aid, while his mother and her boyfriend opted for the services of legal aid.
The magistrate warned him of the implications, to which he said he wanted to plead guilty and get the matter behind him.
He further indicated that, in pleading guilty, he wanted his mother and her boyfriend to be excluded from the case.
He was then told that the minimum sentence would be life imprisonment.
During a short adjournment, Pockpas requested access to the docket.
Case postponed to November 2026
The State advised that he would need a legal-aid lawyer to assist him in understanding the docket.
The State also said that this would be administered advice, which would explain the implications and determination of a plea and its outcome.
After that, Pockpas asked whether the court would show him leniency following his plea. The magistrate warned that he was facing a serious offence, with the minimum sentence being life imprisonment.
The matter was postponed to November 5, 2026. The court also heard that the trial would commence in the Regional Division at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court, following a decision by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Pockpas left the courtroom in high spirits, while Amiena’s family sat in the public gallery.
In the same courtroom, the court heard that the murder case of Shanice Rudolph, 24, was being heard.
Ashwin “Prof” Davids and his co-accused, Mozaid Gasant, made a brief appearance following a delay involving the truck transporting prisoners from Pollsmoor.
The state is set to prove that Davids had murdered Rudolph, who he had been in a relationship with and that he had apparently sought the assistance of another person in disposing of the body
The matter was once again postponed for both accused to complete their consultations with their lawyers and indicate which direction their pleas would take.
It is further alleged that Davids had allegedly asked a male person to dig a hole, apparently claiming that it was meant for an animal but the grave digger became suspicious after learning that his girlfriend had been reported missing.
Rudolph was reported missing on December 4 last year after she was last seen in Cafda, Retreat.
Her decomposing body was found buried on top of another grave in Klip Road Cemetery.
Her face had been so badly decomposed that the family had to rely on DNA evidence to identify her.
It is believed that the Rudolph had been suffocated or choked to death and earlier claims were that she was beaten with a spade.
Earlier, the State said consultation had not taken place because Gasant had previously been ill and was scheduled to have surgery relating to one of his lungs.
Gasant had been kept at Pollsmoor Prison’s hospital division at the time and could not attend court.