WATCH: Son testifies in Alberton murder trial, reveals suspicions over mother’s strange messages

Day three of the trial of the Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), returned to the Palmrige Magistrate’s Court on September 17.

The first witness was called.

The two are accused of murdering Susan Gillian Murray (75). Bekker, Murray’s daughter, is accused of involvement in her mother’s death and was arrested days before Schoeman. He was arrested while hiding in South Hills. Murray’s decomposed body was found dumped in Alberton North in November 2023.

The first witness called was Ian Brett Bekker, the brother of accused two (Bekker).

Ian swore under oath that his mother lived on Oribi Street in Verwoerdpark, Alberton, with accused one (Schoeman) and accused two (Bekker).

Ian’s testimony focused on why he, his family, and Murray’s friends suspected something was wrong with Murray. He told the court that the last time he saw his mom was in October 2023 and that he started getting suspicious messages from her in November 2023.

@albertonrecord Day 3 of the trial against Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), returned to the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court on September 17. The first witness took the stand. FULL STORY: albertonrecord.co.za #Alberton #verwoerdpark #SusanGillianMurray ♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“Leading up to November 22, 2023, there were many concerns raised by friends and family, including myself, that my mom was never available for phone or video calls, only WhatsApp communication (messages). When I tried to make arrangements to visit or see her, there was always an excuse. Either she had a doctor’s appointment or was out with the ladies from her church,” recalled Ian.

VIDEO: Delays on Day 2 of trial lead to rollover of Alberton murder-accused couple

Asked what sparked concern in him about the messages, Ian said, “Many messages were out of character – misspelt and the mannerisms of how mom spoke to me were wrong. My mom had a good grasp of English, and occasionally, I would see a word incorrectly spelt, the most basic words, and the sentences didn’t make sense.”

Commenting on his mom’s mannerisms, Ian said, “She would never call me by my first name. She would always say ‘My love’ or ‘My boy’. But the messages I was getting were blunt, and used my first name in an answer. Those are some of what raised suspicion.”

Ian testified about receiving a bizarre reply when he tried to reach his mom.

“In one message, when I had tried to reach my mom, a reply came back that said: ‘I am a grown a** woman and can do what I like’. My mom would never say something like that,” he told the court.

The rest of Ian’s testimony described the events that led up to the arrests, confirming much of the Alberon Record’s March 14 report: Alberton murder cover-up attempt failed when siblings refused to let it go 

This publication revealed that Murray’s daughter would pretend to be the mother by responding to the WhatsApp messages sent to Murray’s phone. Whenever Ian wanted to visit, the daughter, still pretending, would use Murray’s phone to message the son not to come by, making up excuses, such as she was not at home or was at church.

The prosecutor asked Ian to explain how he knew his sister was the one messaging him and others on Murray’s phone.

WATCH: Day 1 in the trial of Alberton-accused couple reveals shocking details

“I found my sister after searching for her in the neighbourhood. She was walking home after I had earlier arrived at an empty house where my mother lived. My sister barely kept a phone of her own, but that day, I found my mother’s phone in her possession.”

Ian recalled when his sister allegedly told him the whereabouts of Murray.

“After a long period of pleading and asking questions about my mom’s whereabouts, she finally said that while driving with Schoeman on Radio Road in Alberton, he gestured to her that your mom is in the veld.”

@albertonrecord Day 3 of the trial against Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), returned to the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court on September 17. The first witness took the stand. FULL STORY: albertonrecord.co.za #Alberton #verwoerdpark #SusanGillianMurray ♬ original sound – Alberton Record

He testified that he immediately informed the police of what his sister had allegedly revealed.

The State intends to call more witnesses. The trial continues on September 19.

Schoeman and Bekker were remanded back into custody.