The case against the Alberton murder-accused duo, Werner Jack Schoeman and Delichia Bekker, returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on November 11.

The pair is accused of involvement in the murder of Susan Gillian Murray.

Murray, who lived in Verwoerdpark at the time of her death, was found dumped in Alberton North in November 2023. Schoeman (accused one) and Bekker (accused two) face charges of murder, fraud and theft.

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

Previous court sittings heard testimony from witnesses about cars stolen from Murray’s Verwoerdpark home. Two of the vehicles belonged to her stepson, who had parked them there for safekeeping, while a third belonged to the deceased. All the vehicles were recovered around the time of the arrests.

In October, the trial did not proceed due to the absence of two state witnesses, both SAPS members. The matter was then postponed to November 5 for further evidence. The presiding officer decided to roll over the testimony of the two SAPS witnesses to November 11.

@albertonrecordThe trial magistrate, Isabella Mlaba, was absent at November 11’s court hearing. She has been presiding over the Alberton murder-accused couple’s case since it started. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

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However, the trial magistrate, Isabella Mlaba, was absent at the November 11 hearing. Mlaba has been presiding over the case since it began, and it is unclear what led to her absence.

On the morning of November 11, the public was informed that Mlaba would arrive later, but this did not happen. It was later communicated that she would not attend court that day.

The cases, including Schoeman and Bekker’s, were transferred to a different court, where the accused persons were informed that their matters would be postponed.

Schoeman and Bekker’s case was postponed to November 24 for further evidence. Both accused remain in custody.

WATCH: Alberton murder-accused couple: Witness testimony rolled over