Cullinan suspect held in custody for rape and murder of teen cousin
The deceased was found with her hands and feet tied, with a cloth inserted into her mouth.
A 30-year-old man is expected to appear at the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court in Pretoria on May 21 after abandoning his bail application.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the accused is facing charges of the murder and rape of his 17-year-old cousin.
“It is alleged that he arranged to meet his cousin on March 24 around 20:00.
He went to fetch the deceased from her boyfriend’s place and went with her to his employer’s empty house.
The suspect was employed as a gardener and was responsible for maintaining the yard and cutting grass,” said Mahanjana.
She said the suspect raped and killed the victim and then pretended to look for her at their home.
“On March 25, the deceased’s mother started to look for her and went to the boyfriend’s place to enquire about the whereabouts of her child.
“That is when the boyfriend informed them that the deceased left with the suspect,” said Mahanjana.
The mother opened a missing person’s case and the police found the victim’s lifeless body at the accused’s workplace.
“The deceased was found with her hands and feet tied, with a cloth inserted in her mouth.
“When the suspect heard that the community was looking for him, he handed himself over to the police,” said Mahanjana.
After he abandoned his bail application, the matter was postponed for further investigation.
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