The case against the Alberton murder-accused duo, Werner Jack Schoeman (accused one) and Delichia Bekker (accused two), returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on December 8.

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.

@albertonrecordThe forensic pathologist attached to the Gauteng Provincial Government’s pathology service in Germiston told the court about the severity of Susan Gillian Murray’s corpse, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of death. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

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Schoeman and Bekker face charges including 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.

Forensic medical officer takes the witness stand

A forensic medical officer attached to Gauteng Provincial Government’s pathology service in Germiston testified about her findings during the examination of Susan Gillian Murray’s body.

She told the court that the exact cause of Murray’s death is not yet known due to the severity of decomposition.

The court was informed that post-mortem results on Murray’s body revealed the following:

• Hands tied behind the back around the wrists with a black cable tie

• No injuries noted on external examination of the body

• Decomposing body

• Decomposing viscera

• Liquefied brain

The cause of death was determined as unascertained due to severe decomposition, pending toxicology results.

Previous court testimony suggested that Murray could have been drugged before her disappearance and subsequent discovery, allegedly by Schoeman.

The pending toxicology results are yet to be finalised, which will determine whether Murray was indeed drugged and with what substances. It is unclear why the results have not been completed.

The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), which provides diagnostic pathology and other services to 80 percent of the South African population, released a statement in August committing to halving the toxicology case backlog by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year. It is unclear if Murray’s results are included in this backlog.

Deceased daughter back on the witness stand

At the December 8 court hearing, Gillian Tracy-Lee Elser, Murray’s daughter, returned to the witness stand after testifying on November 28. Elser gave her testimony via videoconference from a remote location.

Her testimony focused on messages she and her brother had received from a person they suspect was not their mother, using the deceased’s device.

Both accused one (Schoeman) and accused two (Bekker) deny ever using drugs, let alone drugging anyone, as alleged against Schoeman in previous testimony.

Presiding magistrate Isabella Mlaba questioned Elser about her relationship with her sister (Bekker) before their mother’s death. “I always thought our relationship was good,” Elser said.

She added that she often saw her sister during her breaks from work, while she was employed as a teacher in Oman.

Asked about Bekker’s relationship with their mother, Elser said: “I do not think they had the best relationship. My brother often witnessed accused two (Bekker) screaming, shouting, and arguing with my mother (Murray).” Elser also told the court that Murray had mentioned Bekker often raised her voice when speaking to her.

After Elser concluded her testimony, Magistrate Mlaba postponed the case to January 19, 2026. The magistrate said she hoped it would be the final postponement and informed the prosecutor and defence lawyer that she wanted the case finalised.

Schoeman and Bekker remain in custody.

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