WATCH: Alberton murder-accused couple: Court to decide accused fate after state, defense conclude arguments
Werner Jack Schoeman and Delichia Bekker have been in custody for over two years for their alleged involvement in the death of an Alberton woman in 2023.
Closing arguments have concluded in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court murder trial of Werner Jack Schoeman and Delichia Bekker.
The couple are 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 and theft. Bekker, who is 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.
Closing arguments delivered
The court is set to decide the fate of both accused after the state and defence concluded their closing arguments, with both sides expressing satisfaction that they presented their cases.
@albertonrecord Werner Jack Schoeman and Delichia Bekker have been in custody for over two years for their alleged involvement in the death of an Alberton woman in 2023. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za
“Your Worship, it is common cause in this matter that the deceased is in fact dead, that she was discovered in a veld next to Radio Road (Alberton), her body was decomposing at the time, she was bound and hidden under a cover that was weighed down by rocks, and accused one and two also conceded in cross-examination that in these circumstances it is clear that she was in fact murdered,” said the prosecutor.
Murray’s cause of death is recorded as ‘undetermined’ due to the state of decomposition in which the body was found. Commenting on this, the prosecutor said: “The state is of the view that evidence before this court demonstrates that a court can convict where the cause of death is undetermined.”
The prosecutor previously told the court that all the evidence gathered points to the involvement of the couple in Murray’s death.
Defence calls for acquittal
The lawyer representing both of the accused said the state has not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The defence maintains that suspicion, however strong, does not establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no direct evidence linking the accused to the murder and sale of the vehicles without the knowledge of the deceased.
“The defence, therefore, submits that the state’s case is lacking and that the inferences that the state seeks the court to draw do not exclude with reasonable prospect the innocence of the accused persons. The defence prays for the acquittal of both accused persons,” concluded the defence.
Judgment in the case will be handed down on September 30. Both accused remain in custody.
