A former South African rugby player accused of three murders has a history of mental health problems, a court was told.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Joseph Ntshongwana, 34, a former player for the Barbarians and Blue Bulls, allegedly killed three people with an axe in the eastern South African city of Durban last week.
He allegedly decapitated one of his victims, South African website news24.com reported, dumping the man's head in a bin in an industrial precinct.
Ntshongwana's lawyer, JP Broster, told a magistrates court he would apply for his client to undergo psychological observation under a section of law that determines whether a person is fit to stand trial.
Broster also handed a psychologist's report on Ntshongwana's medical history to police.
Ntshongwana, who was arrested at his parents' house on Tuesday, wore a red t-shirt and black tracksuit pants in court, bowing his head with arms folded across his chest, the website reported.
It was initially reported that Ntshongwana was avenging the rape of his daughter, who contracted HIV during the attack. But it was revealed on Wednesday that the former player does not have a daughter.
