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 March 4.

The pair is accused of involvement in the murder of Susan Gillian Murray, who lived in Verwoerdpark at the time of her death and was found dumped in Alberton North in November 2023.

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 hiding in South Hills.

@albertonrecordWerner Jack Schoeman (accused one) was put on the stand by his lawyer to testify on his version of events before the discovery of Susan Gillian Murray’s dead body in Alberton North, in November 2023. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za♬ Crime, incident scene, mystery, investigation, news coverage, etc.(850898) – Shoya Kitagawa

At the March 4 hearing, the court heard testimony from one of the accused in the case. Schoeman was put on the stand by his lawyer to testify on his version of events before the discovery of Murray’s dead body in Alberton North in November 2023. Schoeman told the court that he met his co-accused (Bekker) in July 2023.

“The deceased (Murray) and accused two asked me to stay with them for a while because they had problems with accused two’s boyfriend at the time. Accused two’s then boyfriend did not want to leave the property,” said Schoeman. Accused two’s then boyfriend is a man only known as Anthony.

Commenting on accused two’s relationship with her mother, Schoeman said: “They would have arguments sometimes, but besides that, they had a good relationship.” Schoeman further told the court that Anthony was verbally aggressive towards Murray and was physically abusive towards accused two.

Vehicle sold

“Accused number two’s then boyfriend, Anthony, picked up the deceased (Murray), and they went to sell the car. Later during the day, he (Anthony) returned without the deceased. Upon questioning the whereabouts of the deceased, Anthony said he had dropped the deceased at a friend’s house,” said Schoeman.

Schoeman told the court that when the deceased left with Anthony to sell the car, the deceased looked troubled and anxious.

The vehicle being referred to belonged to the deceased and was recovered when accused one and accused two were arrested.

WATCH: Alberton murder trial: Stolen cars and mystery man emerge in court

He further told the court that the last time he saw Murray was when she left with Anthony, and he had no idea what had happened to her.

“I only found out that the deceased had passed away when I got arrested on November 24, 2023,” testified Schoeman. Asked if he had killed Murray or was involved in her death, Schoeman told the court that he neither killed nor was he involved in the killing.

“The matter is being adjourned until March 10 for cross-examination. Both of you shall remain in custody until then,” said presiding magistrate Isabella Mlaba. The State prosecutor is expected to question Schoeman on the testimony he gave in court.

WATCH: Alberton murder-accused duo in court, State prosecutor absence delays inmate’s testimony