The fourth day of the trial for the Alberton murder-accused duo, Werner Jack Schoeman (42) and Delichia Bekker (43), featured a dramatic turn of events involving stolen cars, a denied relationship and a mysterious man named Anthony.

The pair stand accused of murdering Verwoerdpark resident Susan Gillian Murray. Bekker, Murray’s daughter, was arrested days before Schoeman, who was hiding in South Hills.

Murray’s decomposed body was found in Alberton North in November 2023.

The accused faces charges of murder and fraud. Schoeman and Bekker returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for the cross-examination of the first witness, Ian Bekker, who was questioned on his version of events.

@albertonrecord Dramatic turn of events events involving stolen cars, a denied relationship and a mysterious man named “Anthony.” FULL STORY: www.albertonrecord.co.za #SusanGillianMurray #Alberton ♬ News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) – Lyrebirds music

Asked why he took so long to act on suspicious messages from someone pretending to be his mother, Ian said, “On occasions that I did go past my mom’s house, nobody would unlock the gate. I would send a message, and the response would always be an excuse, either she was at the doctor, taking accused number two to the doctor or out with ladies from the church. There was always a reason why she was not home.”

The defence lawyer said Bekker denied telling her brother, Ian, where Murray’s body was. However, she claimed she had told Ian she had had an argument with a man known as Anthony and suspected he was involved in the disappearance.

Bekker also denied dating Schoeman around the time of her mother’s disappearance, saying she was in a relationship with Anthony.

In response, Ian admitted knowing Anthony and confirmed that he had lived with his mother on Oribi Street in Verwoerdpark. However, he denied that his sister told him about an argument or her suspicions about Anthony.

Stolen cars:

Tyrin Murray, the deceased’s stepson, testified as the State’s second witness. His testimony focused on cars stolen from the Verwoerdpark home.

He owned two cars stolen from the Oribi Street home, which he had parked there for safekeeping. A third stolen car belonged to the deceased.

Tyrin said he did not know Schoeman. On the theft, he said, “I opened a case of fraud and theft against the National Traffic Information System (Natis), the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Werner and Delichia because they lived at the home at the time.”

Natis, a government entity, maintains the electronic database for vehicle registration and licensing. The RTMC is responsible for road user safety and managing an effective road traffic system.

All the vehicles were recovered around the time of the arrests.

“I gave no permission to sell the vehicles. I opened a case because one car had been cloned; there was a duplicate set of documents. We discovered this when trying to sell a car, as it was registered under someone else’s name. It took about seven weeks to get the car reinstated in our name,” said Tyrin.

The defence lawyer asked if Tyrin had seen the accused drive or remove the cars from the property; he said he did not.

Asked if he opened the case against the accused purely because they lived on the property and an assumption that they might have had something to do with the missing cars, Tyrin answered yes.

The defence lawyer concluded that he would argue the court should reject evidence because Tyrin did not see the accused remove the cars. The State will call more witnesses.

The matter was adjourned to October 29 for further evidence, with both accused remaining in custody.

The Alberton Record understands that the next witnesses for the State will be from the SAPS.

WATCH: Son testifies in Alberton murder trial, reveals suspicions over mother’s strange messages