WATCH: Alberton murder-accused couple: Magistrate rules admissibility of disputed statement
Defence witness, Cheslin John, previously testified that he was forced to become State witness in Alberton murder trial involving Werner Jack Schoeman (accused one) and Delichia Bekker (accused two).
The case against the Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (accused one) and Delichia Bekker (accused two), returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on August 26.
The pair is accused of involvement in the murder of Susan Gillian Murray, who lived in Verwoerdpark, Alberton, at the time of her death. Murray’s body 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.
Magistrate rules admissibility of disputed statement:
Defence witness, Cheslin John, previously testified that he was forced to become a state witness in the Alberton murder trial involving Schoeman and Bekker.
@albertonrecord Defence witness, Cheslin John, previously testified that he was forced to become State witness in Alberton murder trial involving Werner Jack Schoeman (accused one) and Delichia Bekker (accused two). Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
John is an inmate at Boksburg Prison (the same prison Schoeman is held at) on a separate case, and previously told the court that: “I was forced to make the statement. I did not make it freely.
Brandt (detective) said if I do not make a statement and agree to be a State witness, I will be linked to this case.”
Detective Brandt has since passed away, and the case was taken over by a new investigating officer (IO). Brandt served as the IO in the ongoing case against accused one and two.
John’s claims led to a ‘trial within a trial’, where the State and defence argued on the admissibility of the disputed statement.
In considering the admissibility of the statement John gave to Detective Brandt, Magistrate Isabella Mlaba relied on arguments from the state, the defence, the current investigating officer (Constable Itumeleng Mokgomola), and legal precedent.
The magistrate ruled that John’s statement is admissible, meaning it can be used in the main trial against accused one and two.
It is unclear what is in John’s statement as it has not yet been read into the record.
The case has been adjourned to September 1 and 2, when the State is expected to continue cross-examining the defence witness (John). Schoeman and Bekker remain in custody.
WATCH: Alberton murder-accused couple back in court, ‘trial within a trial’ looming
