The murder trial of Sean Davison, who founded the 'right to die' organisation DignitySA, was postponed to 29 April after he made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court yesterday. Magistrate Greg Jacobs granted the postponement to allow for Davison to consult his lawyer, and his bail of R20 000 was extended.

Davison was arrested at his home in Cape Town last year for the 2013 death of his friend Anrich Burger, who had become a quadriplegic after a car crash.

News24 reported previously that, according to the charge sheet, he had 'administered a lethal amount of drugs to the quadriplegic deceased' at or near the Radisson Hotel in Granger Bay on 2 November 2013.

Davison also helped his ill mother end her life in New Zealand with a morphine injection. He served five months in detention there for assisted suicide.

The second charge is in connection with the death of Justin Varian, who had motor neuron disease, on 25 July 2015. Police are holding his South African and New Zealand passports.

At his first court appearance, Davison stated in an affidavit that he had not committed a crime.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said on the sidelines of the case that the Director of Public Prosecutions was also deciding which was the appropriate forum to hear the matter – the Magistrate's, Regional or High Court.

Full News24 report