The Jeppestown massacre trial was on Tuesday postponed to 24 November as some of the advocates in the matter have other cases to attend to.

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng had suggested that two advocates, who would be engaged elsewhere on Wednesday, be represented by other advocates, but their clients Nkosinathi Mzamo Mchunu and Sizwe Mbuyazi refused.

The State is in the process of calling in witnesses in mitigation of sentence.

A psychiatrist, who observed Sergeant W van Niekerk and Inspector Leonie van Heerden, was expected to furnish the State with evaluation reports on the two officers which will then be presented to the court.

Van Niekerk and Van Heerden were at the scene of the 2006 shootout that left four of their colleagues, including van Heerden's husband, dead.

Earlier on Tuesday, Van Heerden had broken down in tears while telling the court of the trauma her husband's death had caused their two young children.

"They were greatly traumatised. They miss their father every day of their lives, and a day doesn't go by without my son asking why his father was shot," Van Heerden said before the case was adjourned briefly to allow her time to compose herself.

Before going onto the witness stand, she sat quietly in the public gallery clutching her slain husband's wedding band, attached to a necklace.

Sapa