Attending the trial of the two gangsters who killed their five-year-old son has been a sombre ritual for Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie.
Since May this year, members of the media have clustered in a courtroom of the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town, chronicling the trial of Jerome “Donkey” Booysen. Alongside several alleged underworld kingpins, the notorious, alleged boss of the Sexy Boys gang is on trial for the murder of “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein.
Simultaneously, but unnoticed, a man and woman have been entering the court daily, arms entwined, as they make their way to an adjacent courtroom. This has been a sombre ritual for Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie, the parents of five-year-old Valentino Romano, who was gunned down on 21 December 2019.
Since mid-April, they have provided agonising testimony to the tragedy that unfolded in their backyard in Lavender Hill. And they have silently wept as the trial unfolded of two gangsters accused of murdering the little boy while in pursuit of rival gang members.
The couple have winced while grisly details emerged of rival turf wars and the deadly consequences on children, especially their beloved Valentino. Yet each day, leading up to judgment, they have returned, hurting, but hopeful, to a room that is empty except for the judge, court officials, investigating officer, legal counsel and, of course, the accused.
