[Videos] Alberton murder trial: Son testifies against sister accused in mother’s killing
Murdered Susan Murray's son testified about suspicious messages and how they led to arrests, including that of his sister.
The trial of Alberton murder-accused couple Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43) is set to continue in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Alberton Record reports that during day three of the trial on Wednesday, the first witness was called.
The two are accused of murdering 75-year-old Susan Gillian Murray. Bekker, Murray’s daughter, is accused of involvement in her mother’s death and was arrested days before Schoeman, who was later arrested while hiding in South Hills. Murray’s decomposed body was found dumped in Alberton North in November 2023.
The first witness called was Ian Brett Bekker, the brother of accused two (Bekker).
Ian swore under oath that his mother lived on Oribi Street in Verwoerdpark, Alberton, with accused one (Schoeman) and accused two (Bekker).
@albertonrecord Day 3 of the trial against Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), returned to the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court on September 17. The first witness took the stand. FULL STORY: albertonrecord.co.za #Alberton #verwoerdpark #SusanGillianMurray
Concerns raised by family and friends
Ian’s testimony focused on why he, his family, and Murray’s friends suspected something was wrong. He told the court that the last time he saw his mother was in October 2023 and that he started receiving suspicious messages from her in November 2023.
“Leading up to November 22, 2023, there were many concerns raised by friends and family, including myself, that my mom was never available for phone or video calls, only WhatsApp communication (messages). When I tried to make arrangements to visit or see her, there was always an excuse. Either she had a doctor’s appointment or was out with the ladies from her church,” recalled Ian.
Asked what sparked concern in him about the messages, Ian said: “Many messages were out of character – misspelt and the mannerisms of how mom spoke to me were wrong. My mom had a good grasp of English, and occasionally, I would see a word incorrectly spelt, the most basic words, and the sentences didn’t make sense.”
Commenting on his mom’s mannerisms, Ian said: “She would never call me by my first name. She would always say ‘My love’ or ‘My boy’. But the messages I was getting were blunt, and used my first name in an answer. Those are some of what raised suspicion.”
Bizarre message raises alarm
Ian testified about receiving a bizarre reply when he tried to reach his mother.
“In one message, when I had tried to reach my mom, a reply came back that said: ‘I am a grown a** woman and can do what I like’. My mom would never say something like that,” he told the court.
The rest of Ian’s testimony described the events that led up to the arrests, confirming much of the Alberton Record’s March 14 report: Alberton murder cover-up attempt failed when siblings refused to let it go
The publication revealed that Murray’s daughter would pretend to be the mother by responding to WhatsApp messages sent to Murray’s phone. Whenever Ian wanted to visit, the daughter, still pretending, would use Murray’s phone to message him not to come by, making up excuses that she was not at home or was at church.
@albertonrecord Day 3 of the trial against Alberton murder-accused couple, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), returned to the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court on September 17. The first witness took the stand. FULL STORY: albertonrecord.co.za #Alberton #verwoerdpark #SusanGillianMurray
Discovery of the phone
The prosecutor asked Ian to explain how he knew his sister was the one messaging him and others on Murray’s phone.
“I found my sister after searching for her in the neighbourhood. She was walking home after I had earlier arrived at an empty house where my mother lived. My sister barely kept a phone of her own, but that day, I found my mother’s phone in her possession.”
Ian recalled when his sister allegedly told him the whereabouts of Murray.
“After a long period of pleading and asking questions about my mom’s whereabouts, she finally said that while driving with Schoeman on Radio Road in Alberton, he gestured to her that ‘your mom is in the veld’.”
He testified that he immediately informed the police of what his sister had allegedly revealed.
The state intends to call more witnesses. Schoeman and Bekker were remanded back into custody.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
