The local high school teacher and her friend, who were arrested in connection with the case of the man who ‘died’ in an incident in 2015, entered an empty courtroom at the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court this morning for their second court appearance.
The News recently learned that the 50-year-old mother of Leroux and Marcelle Steyn, both of whom are currently in custody as part of the foursome that stands accused of the murders of three Krugersdorp residents during May, was arrested for being in possession of a quantity of dagga a month ago. The woman is an Afrikaans teacher at a local high school.
Their bail application kicked off after tea time as the school teacher (accused three, aged 50) and her best friend (accused two, aged 35) stood side-by-side in the stand.
In the stand, accused two again had oxygen pipes in her nose, while accused three was frequently seen whispering to her during the hearing.
The two face charges of fraud, alongside the man who faked his own death in 2015. The fraud case has evolved into a R3,570 million life insurance fraud case. The case was blown open when the court heard how the teacher (accused three) identified the charred body of the man who faked his own death.
Accused two, who was described by the State as the ‘dead man’s soul mate’, was the sole beneficiary of the life insurance claim.
Both women now face charges of fraud and conspiracy to murder, and accused three faces an additional charge of possession of dagga.
The State argued that both the women, alongside the first accused (the 31-year-old man), knew he was not dead and continued to attempt to claim his life insurance.
Shocking details emerged from the statement of the investigating officer, detective Captain Ben Booysen, who is also investigating the link between accuseds one and three to the murder of the Noordheuwel couple, Peter and Joan Meyer, which occurred in November last year.
Details of how accused one met the man whose body was found, burnt to death, in a deserted vehicle in Petus Steyn in the Free State also emerged in court.
Accused two indicated that she was medically handicapped in motivating her bail application, but the application was postponed until 10 August for further consideration by Magistrate Page.
Both women will remain in custody until then.
Read more on this developing case:
Murdered couple’s case still under investigation
ID kits released in Meyer couple murder
Court hears how accused played their parts in murders
Local teacher involved in ‘dead man’s’ fraud case
