Werner de Jager, the husband to murdered Reverend Liezel,  will make another appearance in the Amanzimtoti Magistrate’s Court today to continue with his bail application.

He stands accused of murdering his N.G. Kerk Suidkus pastor wife on October 13, 2021, at their Amanzimtoti home as she returned from a morning jog. Werner was arrested in Bloemfontein on November 23, 2023, and was extradited to Amanzimtoti where he made his first appearance four days later.

Thus far, these are the allegations that have been made by the prosecution as it asked Magistrate Zama Nyuswa to deny bail:

• He planned his wife’s murder and took out insurance life covers on her totalling R3.29m.
• He phoned insurance companies the day his wife died and tried to claim the life covers.
• A person of interest who may have assisted Werner in committing the crime has been identified and may be arrested soon.
• He was involved in the strangling to death of a woman in the UK while working there in 2010.
• When he was arrested in November, he confessed to murdering his wife and provided details on how he did it.
• He has attempted to commit suicide 12 times.
• Two women died in the Free State after a car he was driving slammed into theirs. The state alleges he was drunk.
• If released on bail, he may kill witnesses to silence them.

The state added two counts of fraud relating to the life cover policies – which never paid out – each with a minimum sentence of 15 years. The state is seeking life in prison for the premeditated murder charge.

Where he might stay if granted bail

Potchefstroom Herald reports that Werner’s legal representative Huibré Lamprecht and his lawyer André May are both from Potchefstroom.

When asked, Lamprecht said she could not comment.

Werner indicated Huis Hebron as his permanent address in his bail application form. Huis Hebron is approximately 15km from Potchefstroom on the R53 (Vereeniging-road).

Huis Hebron manager Elma le Roux referred the newspaper to their legal representative, Daniel Richards, for enquiries.

Richards confirms Huis Hebron is a possibility for De Jager should he be granted bail.

“A decision was made that Huis Hebron will accommodate him (Werner de Jager). Huis Hebron has already got many people in the community back on their feet. For years Huis Hebron has been doing incredibly good work for people. Huis Hebron also has strict rules that residents must follow,” explains Richards.