The final leg of the trial of the remaining three accused in the #KrugersdorpMurders case is in progress, with final arguments starting in the South Gauteng High Court today.
The State Prosecutor, Gerrit Roberts, said this is a case of religious manipulation, murder and lies and the lives of the victim’s families were impacted in such a way that they had to move away and start new lives. There was also a financial impact, and Ria Grunewald had been forced to start over and create a new identity.
The State will prove the motives for the murders were revenge and personal greed, and that Cecilia Steyn was the head of the group.
Read more on Marcel’s testimony here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/379723/krugersdorpmurders-marcel-ends-emotional-testimony/
According to Roberts, Marcel Steyn, the youngest accused, surprised the court when she changed her version from denial; however, by changing her mind she confirmed the State’s indictment.
The State explained there were many other witnesses who were sucked into this group and persuaded to believe what Cecilia told them, but they made the decision not to accept her word. Marcel had the same opportunity, and she had the option to leave if she really wanted to.
“If we take Cecilia away, no crime would have been committed. The rift between her and Grunewald would not have happened, and the rest of the crimes were just a domino effect after that,” he said.
Read here about Cecilia’s testimony:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/369731/krugersdorpmurders-cecilia-steyn-mostly-denying-allegations/
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/369731/krugersdorpmurders-cecilia-steyn-mostly-denying-allegations/
He explained that this case was like a puzzle, and with Marcel’s testimony, the last of the pieces had been added.
He went on to say that the group was like an enterprise, with Cecilia Steyn at its head. Marinda Steyn, Marcel’s mother, was the second in command, and the others in the group were the foot soldiers.
He likened it to a company with a CEO and employees and each employee had their own duties within the company.
The State will prove that Cecilia was the leader of the group, and that although she did not ‘get her hands dirty’ she was aware and in charge of the group’s activities.
According to his argument, the murders committed before 2015, can be linked to Cecilia wanting revenge.
Pastor Nel’s church was burned because he was too close to Ria, Natacha Burger was becoming Ria’s second in charge and even started presenting the Know Your Saviour courses for the Overcomers Through Christ ministry, which has Ria’s ministry.
Pastor Reg Bendixen was also a close friend of Ria.
The State said that the murder of Mikeila Valentine, Zak Valentine’s (also an accused) wife, was committed by persons close to Cecilia. Mikeila was a liability as she had told Zak and her family she wanted to get out. She had intimate knowledge of their crimes.
The group conspired to kill Joshua Grunewald for the sole reason that he was Ria’s son and they wanted to take out those close to Ria, Roberts said.
Roberts explained that people close to Cecilia who had a change of heart and decided to disappear are still alive today.
The trial continues.
