Jenny King’s daughter relies on legacy of courage

THE recent death of Forest Hills resident, Jenny King, has left the community shocked after her badly beaten body was found in the early hours of Saturday, 12 January by her daughter, Lee-Anne.

Police reported that a case of murder is being investigated and that Jenny King’s boyfriend had appeared in court on Monday, 14 January.

“A female victim was found deceased in a house in Forest Hills. It is alleged that she had an argument with her boyfriend early on in the evening. He had already left the house when she was found,” Capt Lindzi Smith of Hillcrest SAPS told a Highway Mail reporter.

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Jenny King’s boyfriend, who her daughter told to go to the police about her mother’s death on the day her body was found, was arrested on his arrival at Hillcrest SAPS.

“On Monday, 14 January he made his first appearance. A case of murder has been opened and is being investigated,” said Smith.

King’s daughter, Lee-Anne, has spoken about the loss of her mother, brutally killed in her own home.

King said women often face danger not only from strangers and general crime but from within their own social circles.

“It’s scary you never know. I’ve had two relationships that were physically violent. We, as women, need to love ourselves so fiercely that we walk away immediately!”

“We want the maximum penalty of life without parole to set an example to others who daily hurt women and children,” said King who has begun sharing comments about gender-based violence and its prevalence in society with the hashtag #JusiceForJen, on her Facebook page.

King said at the moment the family isn’t able to discuss details of the ongoing case being investigated into the death of her mother because the matter is before the court.

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“However, we have full faith in the judicial system that he will be convicted,” said King speaking of the man who is facing charges related to the death of the 55-year-old grandmother and mother.

King said details which the investigation has brought to light might provide answers to questions about what happened to her mother.

“We can confirm that autopsy reports blunt force trauma and internal bleeding as the cause of death,” said King. “There is a rumour going around that she committed suicide. Jenny King’s death was at the hands of the last person that saw her.”

At a memorial service at the small chapel at the Botha’s Hill, Chantecler Hotel on Saturday, 19 January, the family spoke about how much they missed Jenny and how much her example of how to deal with adversity had been a beacon to them in the days since her death and given them strength to deal with her loss.

“My mother taught me a lot about courage, especially that courage is not the absence of fear, but the acquired ability to move through it,” said King at the touching service.

“I know she is with me all the time now, and her strength is what will give me and all of us the ability to stand through all that is to come.”

The court case is set to continue on 18 March.

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