THE mother who was charged with the murder of her infant son was found hanged in a Port Edward flat last weekend. Juanita Fourie (28) was discovered dead early last Saturday morning.
Fourie and her former husband, Christiaan Oldewage (27), had previously been charged in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in connection with child abuse and the killing of Christiaan junior, their three-and-a-half-week old baby boy.
Margate police spokesperson, Captain Gerald Mfeka, said Fourie lived in a flat in Cascade Road in the Banners Rest area. “She left behind 18 notes, 17 of which were written in Afrikaans and one in English,” he said.
An inquest docket has been opened.
The state claimed the couple had beaten the child to death or allowed him to be beaten to death. After Christiaan junior was admitted to hospital, he died of multiple injuries, including a skull fracture and broken ribs in December 2011.
Ms Fourie was legally represented by local South Coast advocate Carlo Viljoen, who confirmed that he had withdrawn from the case on Wednesday last week.
Ms Fourie moved to Port Edward several months ago and worked with her boyfriend Tobie la Grange (32) as manager of his liquor store.
It is believed that Mr la Grange met Ms Fourie at a Margate nightclub. However, after a few months of dating the relationship turned sour and the pair had split up.
Ms Fourie apparently then moved out and was staying in the Banners Rest area. Capt Mfeka confirmed that Ms Fourie had sent a photograph to Mr la Grange the night before she was discovered dead. “The photograph sent to Mr le Grange’s cellphone showed Ms Fourie with a noose around her neck,” he said.
It is believed that, when Mr la Grange received the photograph, he was frantic and asked a friend of Ms Fourie to check up on her. The friend did so and Ms Fourie appeared to be fine. However, when Mr la Grange went to visit Ms Fourie the following morning, he found her dead.
It’s also believed that, a week prior to Ms Fourie’s death, she was treated in hospital after she cut her wrists.
According to a IOL report, Ms Fourie failed to show up for her trial on Monday, July 29 as she was “fearful” of court. Her lawyer told the court that she had had a nervous breakdown and she needed time to gather herself. A letter from a psychologist was handed to the court, saying she suffered from major anxiety and depression.
The prosecutor said the state intended to refer Ms Fourie to Weskoppies Hospital for psychiatric observation, as it seemed she had a mental problem.
According to the online report, Mr Viljoen objected and said he should be blamed for the fact she didn’t arrive on Monday as she was simply following his advice and that of the psychiatrist.
When Ms Fourie took the stand on Wednesday, July 31, she said she had moved to Port Edward as she could no longer bear to be in Pretoria. “I had death threats and I moved to get away from everything. I am scared and it is not nice to come here, where I am judged by everyone and hunted by the paparazzi,” she said.
She said there was nothing mentally wrong with her. She went to the psychiatrist as she could not stop crying and feared facing the court.
The judge gave her the benefit of the doubt and extended her bail without referring her to Weskoppies.
Ms Fourie was to appear in court on December 2. It’s believed Ms Fourie had to report to the Port Edward police station on Mondays and Fridays.
Oldewage, the baby’s stepfather, is still in custody.
