Duncan Hoorn, convicted of murdering his wife Chantel Pasqualle-Hoorn, appeared visibly emotional as his sentencing hearing began on 30 September 2026 at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Wynberg Regional Court. The sentencing was postponed to 7 October 2026 following the announcement by Hoorn’s defence that a psychiatrist who has reportedly treated him since 2024 will be called to testify.
Acting Judge Amanda van Leeve, who presided over the trial and convicted Hoorn on 7 September 2026, questioned why the mental health evidence was only being raised at this stage of proceedings. “Why was this only being raised at this stage?” she asked during the sentencing hearing, signalling judicial frustration over the timing of the defence’s psychiatric submission.
Hoorn was acquitted of kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice but found guilty of the murder of Pasqualle-Hoorn, who died in hospital on 28 July 2024 from injuries sustained during an assault the previous month.
Victim-impact statements painted a poignant picture of Chantel Pasqualle-Hoorn’s role in her family and the devastating loss they now endure. Her son, Xavier Pasqualle, expressed deep remorse for not speaking out sooner about a history of violence. “I feel guilty to this day, because I always think that if I spoke up earlier, things would have been different, and my mom would still be here with us,” he told the court. He added, “The day that everything happened, that was an isolated incident. There is a history of violence. I witnessed it.”
Another family member, Ramona Hendricks, addressed Hoorn directly, highlighting the void left in their lives: “You took away a mother from her son. You took away the daughter my mother relied upon every day. You took away the sister who was the heart of our family.” A video montage honouring Chantel Pasqualle-Hoorn was shown in court, during which Hoorn was seen breaking down in tears.
The shooting of the sentencing to 7 October 2026 allows the defence to present psychiatric testimony, though the precise contents or medical conclusions of this evidence remain unverified. The court previously anticipated sentencing would proceed on 30 September 2026 following Hoorn’s conviction.
As the community and family await closure, the unfolding case continues to highlight the ongoing challenges of domestic violence and its long-lasting impact on victims and loved ones. Hoorn’s final sentence awaits judicial determination next week in Wynberg.
Further updates will follow when sentencing is concluded or should new developments arise.