NELSPRUIT – The trial of the chief superintendent of traffic of Mbombela Municipality, on a charge of murder, begins today.
Mr Johan Heunis (57), is set to appear in the Gauteng Circuit of the High Court in Nelspruit. He has been charged with the murder of Ms Michelle Curgenven (35) and is set to appear before judge Mr Eben Jordaan, who became known as presiding officer in the Boeremag trial.
Curgenven worked with Heunis and allegedly had romantic feelings for her, but she did not want a relationship with him. She was shot in her garage on July 4 last year.
She lived in a security complex, Tussen Berge, with her two sons. On the day of the shooting, she came home from work at about 11:00. Her domestic worker later said Heunis was with her and that he told her to leave at about 13:00.
Head of Mbombela’s traffic department, Mr Eddie Prollius called Curgenven’s father,
Mr David Meyer at 16:54 and told him that Heunis had phoned in tears saying he had done “a terrible thing”.
Her family then began searching for her and requested the help of Mr Jacques Meiring of Bossies Community Justice and Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit.
They and the police went to the victim’s house where they found Heunis. After a long period of negotiation, during which he apparently threatened to shoot himself, he eventually gave them the key to the garage, where her body was discovered.
