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 June 22.

The pair is accused of involvement in the murder of Susan Gillian Murray, who lived in Verwoerdpark, Alberton, 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.

Bekker (accused two) cross-examination:

During Bekker’s cross-examination on June 22, State prosecutor Advocate Carien Mulder slammed Bekker for continuously giving contradictory testimony and accused her of constantly changing her testimony to suit her narrative.

The prosecutor’s criticism of Bekker’s testimony came after the accused gave contradictory versions of what happened after the disappearance of Murray, whose body was later found dumped in Alberton North.

@albertonrecord

State prosecutor, Advocate Carien Mulder, slammed Delichia Bekker (accused two) for continuously giving contradictory testimony and that accused two constantly changes her testimony to suit her narrative. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

♬ News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) – Lyrebirds music

Accused one (Schoeman) testified that a man known as Anthony (Bekker’s then boyfriend) moved out of their Verwoerdpark home after the deceased’s disappearance.

However, Bekker gave a different version during testimony. Bekker testified that Anthony continued living at the property after the deceased’s disappearance.

Pressed on these contradictions, Bekker said: “It’s been over two years, so I cannot remember everything precisely.” This response drew the prosecutor’s ire. “Ms Bekker, whenever the State has you in a corner, when you are contradicting either yourself or your co-accused (Schoeman), then you suddenly don’t remember properly,” said Advocate Mulder.

Advocate Mulder also confronted Bekker over inconsistencies in her version of events the day before her arrest. In previous testimony, Bekker had told the court that her siblings had come to their mother’s Verwoerdpark home, wanted answers and claimed that her brother, Ian Bekker, angrily demanded the papers of the vehicles kept at their mother’s property and allegedly got physical with her.

Asked who was there during this encounter, Bekker (accused two) said: “Ian (brother), Gillian (sister), and Karen (sister).” Again, Advocate Mulder pointed out contradictions in this version.

The prosecutor said the accused’s account of this encounter could not have happened because Gillian was living and working in Oman as a teacher when Bekker was arrested, and that Gillian only returned to South Africa after the arrest. Questioned about this inconsistency, Bekker said: “No comment.”

Bekker’s cross-examination continues on June 23. Both accused remain in custody.

WATCH: Alberton murder-accused couple: ‘I’m not feeling well,’ accused 2 tells court