Johannes de Jager, who has admitted to dismembering a teenager's corpse, was reprimanded in court yesterday by the judge the Cape Town High Court for making "rude gestures".
De Jager has been charged with the murder of Mpumalanga resident Charmaine Mare and defilement of her corpse in January, and the rape and murder of an 18-year-old , Hiltina Alexander, in 2008.
Acting Judge Chuma Cossie also reprimanded De Jager's lawyer, Sakkie Maartens, for badgering a witness .
Alexander's friend, Colin Jacobs, testified that De Jager was the last person seen with her on May 18, 2008.
Prosecutor Romay van Rooyen objected to Maartens's intimidating cross-examination, to which Maartens responded: "That was not a valid objection."
"I am the one who rules on objections here," said an irate Judge Cossie.
Jacobs's testimony was regularly disrupted by De Jager calling his lawyer aside.
Judge Cossie again complained: "Mr Maartens, please. Your client has been making gestures. I am not going to tolerate rude gestures and rude comments unfortunately."
Maartens came back and apologised after she adjourned the matter.
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