WATCH: Trial date set for Alberton couple accused of murdering mother

The trial date of an Alberton murder-accused couple has been set. Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43) stand accused of murdering Susan Gillian Murray, who lived on Oribi Street in Verwoerdpark, Alberton.

The duo appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on August 4, facing multiple charges after Murray’s decomposed body was found dumped in Alberton North in November 2023.

Bekker, Murray’s daughter, is accused of involvement in her mother’s death and was arrested days before Schoeman. He was later arrested while hiding in South Hills in 2023.

Their case has faced multiple postponements since their arrests. However, the State has, since June 4, maintained that it is satisfied with the evidence in the docket and the charges brought against the accused and is ready to proceed.

The July 15 court hearing saw the defence request a postponement to allow for further consultation with Bekker. It was granted, and the next hearing was set for August 4.

Tension between the accused and their defence lawyer

During the hearing on August 4, Schoeman raised his hand to speak and accused his defence lawyer of not disclosing the contents of the docket.

@albertonrecord The trial date of the Alberton murder-accused couple has been set. Werner Schoeman and Delichia Bekker are scheduled to go on trial for the murder of Susan Gillian Murray. Murray’s decomposed body was found dumped in Alberton North, in November 2023. Schoeman and Bekker will be tried for the murder from September 15 to 19 at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. They were both remanded into custody. #Alberton #Schoeman #Bekker #Murder ♬ News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) – Lyrebirds music

“Your worship, when the defence lawyer came to see us in prison, I asked to read some statements in the docket and was told that there was no need for that. So, I don’t know what is written in the dockets,” said Schoeman.

In response, the defence lawyer said, “Your worship, if that is what the accused require, I will do it. I normally read the statements to them, and would’ve given them the statements if they had asked to read for themselves.

When I read the statements to them, they never raised objections. But if the accused would like to read the statements themselves, the court may grant them the opportunity to do so.”

The defence lawyer also told the court that the accused were given an option to make copies of the contents of the docket at their own expense due to Legal Aid South Africa’s lack of adequate resources to cover such costs for people they represent.

The tension between the accused and their defence lawyer was visible. Schoeman and Bekker kept shaking their heads when the defence spoke, seemingly disagreeing with what their lawyer was saying.

In a moment of frustration, the defence lawyer told the court that she would be willing to withdraw from representing Schoeman and Bekker if they were unhappy with how she represented them.

The court instructed the defence lawyer to find a suitable day for the accused to go through the statements and the contents of the docket.

“Defence, if the accused persons can read, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be given the statements to read. It’s only fair that the defence finds a suitable day to give statements to the accused for them to read and go through,” said the presiding magistrate.

The defence lawyer agreed and undertook to give the accused a chance to peruse the statements and other contents in the docket.

The presiding magistrate, prosecuting team, and defence lawyer all agreed to go ahead with the case.

The pretrial hearing was set for September 5. The trial is scheduled to take place from September 15 to 19.

Schoeman and Bekker face charges of murder, fraud and assault and remain in custody until their next court appearance.

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