John Leonard du Plooy, formerly a co-accused in the Hetta Potgieter murder trial, faced the Roodepoort Regional Court on similar charges on July 7.

He will remain behind bars in Johannesburg Prison until his next court appearance on murder and aggravated robbery charges on July 22.

Du Plooy was previously featured in Lowvelder news reports as the co-accused of Shaun Oosthuizen.

Oosthuizen was convicted for the 2018 murder of Potgieter who had lived in Macadamia Old Age Home near Mbombela. Charges against Du Plooy had been withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

The two had been dubbed the “Old age home killers” following the investigation of multiple murders of four elderly women from different old ages homes (in both Mpumalanga and Gauteng) between 2018 and 2019.

It was the August 2018 murder of Lillas Jane Merry that led to Du Plooy’s most recent court appearance.

Also read: Murder accused rearrested for death of two elderly women

Du Plooy is currently serving two life sentences, and an additional 30 years’ imprisonment for murder and aggravated robbery cases that occurred in Springs and Alberton. These were committed in June and September 2018.

Oosthuizen was sentenced to four direct life imprisonments plus 80 years’ imprisonment by the Pretoria Regional Court on May 16.

Also read: Serial killer of the elderly gets fourth life sentence

The Hawks’ provincial head, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the investigating team for securing such substantial life sentences and hopes for additional life sentences.

“We appreciate the collaboration between the investigators and judiciary for ensuring that the heartless criminals who tormented the elderly, who could not defend themselves, are removed from the community,” she said.

Mokoena further urged anyone who is responsible for the safeguarding of the elderly to take extra precautions as they cannot fight for themselves.