Axe killer wins right to laptop in cell

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Pretoria - Five inmates at the women’s prison in Pretoria, including double axe killer Maddeleen Bredenhann, have turned to the high court in an attempt to get permission to use their laptops in their cells to pursue their studies. Bredenhann, Marissa Lotter, Sara Coetzee, Tebogo Monyethabeng, Keaoleboga Shupping and Sabibia Brand - all tertiary students - said in court papers they were due to write their exams. But Correctional Services is making life difficult for them by not allowing them to have their personal computers in their cells. They also complained that studying after hours in the communal cells where they are held, is near impossible as the other inmates who are not studying, do not take kindly to them working until late at night. Bredenhann already holds a master’s degree in law, which she obtained while in the women’ section of the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in the city. She has served nine years of her two life sentences for hacking to death her granny, Dassie Wambach and her mother, Elna Bredenhann. The two were killed while asleep in their beds in their Pretoria North home. Bredenhann had pleaded not guilty to the murders, claiming her uncle, Ludwig Wambach, who has since died after robbers hanged him in a tree, was the killer. But this was rejected, as her mother’s blood spatter was found on her night shirt.

Lotter is a third-year law student, while Coetzee is studying for a Bachelor’s in theology. Monyethabeng and Shuping (a former nurse serving 20 years for setting her husband alight) are psychology students and Brand is studying computer project management.

Bredenhann, who submitted an affidavit on behalf of the applicants, said all five are enrolled in correspondence courses and need full-time access to their computers to study and do their assignments. They also need to prepare for their exams.

It was virtually impossible to study in their shared cells, especially without their laptops, she said. She and the other applicants wrote to the prison head, asking to be placed in single cells and to use their laptops, but their requests were ignored.

As things stand, they may only use their computers during study time on weekdays from 9am to 2pm. They cannot study at night, during weekends or holidays.

There are only three classrooms in the women’s prison, accommodating all students. Bredenhann said there was no space, and they were too small and noisy. Some staff also locked up inmates’ computers early. “There are many disturbances. Night study is far more beneficial.”

Bredenhann said the other applicants are aware of the safety concerns of the department relating to inmates being in possession of laptops, but said none of their laptops had built-in modems. They can thus be used without internet access.

Bredenhann said it was decided to take the “drastic measure” of turning to court, as their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Judge Neil Tuchten ordered the department allow the inmates to use their computers and to accommodate them in single cells. The computers may not have modems and it was made clear that if they violated this requirement, they would be subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

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Pretoria News

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