Today friends and family stood in solidarity with Action Society outside the Strand Magistrates court, hoping that the murder trial of Nadia Lotz would finally commence, 550 days after she was killed by her partner of fourteen years and father of their three children, Charles Appolis, on 4 March 2023.
Family and friends of the slain mother-of-three made their presence clear at the court, adorning the court’s sign with candles and pictures of Nadia with the words declaring that the time for justice is now.
“On the day of her murder, Appolis told their children that he was going to fetch Nadia from work. She was in the front passenger side and her friend was driving the car. He was sitting behind her in the vehicle and played her favourite song. He leaned forward and then stabbed her in the neck and slit her throat. Nadia opened the car door and jumped in an attempt to get away. She died on the sidewalk while her friend was forced to drive Nadia’s attacker to the police station,” said Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm.
Palm says Nadia’s family wants justice. They had felt hopeless for years before the murder, because Nadia was kept isolated from them and struggled to leave the abusive relationship because he “sweet talked” her back time and again, but things never got better. Instead, it got worse.
Today, Nadia’s family was in tears when it was announced that the matter was postponed to 19th and 20th February of 2025 for plea and trial. The prosecutor said she wants life for Appolis and expressed her frustration with his numerous delay tactics, saying that he has had more than enough time to appoint a lawyer. The magistrate berated Appolis for wasting the court’s time by failing to appoint a legal representative for 18 months. He stressed that at the next appearance, if he has a legal representative they will have to be ready for trial.
“It is sad to see the heartbreak on the faces of Nadia’s family every time we go to court. For 550 days this poor family has been sold false hope of this killer getting justice, only to be met with more disappointment. We will continue to support Nadia and her family until they get the justice they have been seeking for so long,” said Palm.
