McNab continued her testimony after a short break and said that apart from the group, Marcel was isolated from any other relationships. She explained that Marcel’s relationship with her mother is strained because of her testimony.
Marcel still talks to her brother and father. She has also made a few friends since being incarcerated.
Because Marcel was not involved in every crime committed, McNab limited her discussion to those in which she was involved.
McNab then continued to explain Marcel’s involvement in the various crimes. She said that cults tend to appeal to the part of a person who wants something better; a better world. The leader of such a cult would use various methods to persuade those around them without them knowing, and mentioned some of the ways that some cult leaders would manipulate those around them.
Today’s pre-sentencing proceedings Part 1:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/387222/krugersdorpmurders-steyn-childrens-stepmother-ends-her-testimonyorsteyn-childrens-dad-had-enough-and-said-their-mother-could-take-them/
She said cults often recruit intelligent, caring and motivated people.
Cecilia used numerous methods of intimidation in her Electus Per Deus group. Marcel said that Cecilia was her role model and was special because God spoke to her.
The members of the group dressed much like Cecilia and all had matching tattoos, as part of Cecilia’s manipulation.
Marcel told McNab how Cecilia knew what she was doing outside the home and this made her believe Cecilia could astral project and would keep an eye on her the whole time.
This reinforces the mind control and manipulation that Cecilia and Marinda had over the group.
McNab said she believes that Marcel really feared ending up like Mikaela Valentine if she had tried to get out of the group talks about the crimes.
Today’s pre-sentencing proceedings Part 2:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/387316/krugersdorpmurders-psychologist-details-marcels-sad-and-disturbing-upbringing/
Both Marcel and her brother were told that family demons would possess them if they visited their father or other family. These demons would then endanger the orphans.
Marcel told McNab that she did ask if there was a way they could get money without killing someone and she was told she had doubting demons.
McNab said that while Marcel has a high IQ, her low EQ (emotional quotient) made it possible for others to manipulate her.
She went on to say that although Marcel was part of the crimes, she committed them because of her mother and Cecilia. She would not have committed crimes if it was not for them. McNab called Marcel a model prisoner, stating that she even helped out in the office at the prison where she is incarcerated.
The judge mentioned that he had heard that all three, Marcel, Cecilia and Zak, were model prisoners and asked what he should make of that information.
Marcel told McNab she never wants to do anything to get into trouble again. When she discussed the victims, she said doubting their motives was like treason.
“By doubting, we were either doubting God or Cecilia,” Marcel said to McNab.
McNab explained that a lot of cults used religious components as a way to recruit members and get them to do what they wanted. She explained this after Judge Francis asked if the group was not Christian.
She explained that there are similarities between her research and the group.
Marcel said she only once questioned the group, but because of the remorse she felt when she realised what the group had done, she had to tell the truth when testifying in court.
#KrugersdorpMurders Court will now break for half an hour pic.twitter.com/5drxYRTaPL
— Krugersdorp News (@KrugersdorpNews) August 13, 2019
McNab said that if Marcel had not seen through the group’s lies she would probably have continued to believe Cecilia and Marinda.
Judge Francis then asked how Marcel could say she felt remorse, and what would she have done when testifying if she had not come to the realisation that what had been done was wrong.
McNab continued with her report, saying that in prison Marcel was told to not look to the past because you cannot change it, one should rather look to the future.
She said that Marinda’s personality can be described as controlling, dominating, uninvolved, physically abusive and aggressive, emotionally and mentally abusive, an occult follower, uninvolved parent, irresponsible and more.
When asked to list feelings from her childhood, Marcel used words like fear, isolation and confusion.
When one if Marcel’s school teachers noticed her marks dropping from 90 to 60 per cent, she had asked Marcel what was wrong, whereupon Marcel burst into tears.
Marinda told one of the teachers that Marcel’s marks were good enough, when she was confronted at a teachers’ evening. Marcel wanted to become a doctor.
McNab said that Marcel was raised in a dysfunctional family and through her mother’s involvement in a religious group, was manipulated into taking part in these crimes.
“Her involvement in the murders started when she was 14 and she was never afforded the opportunity to live her life as a healthy teenager,” said McNab.
Allegedly a prison warden has been teaching Marcel true biblical principles and she is using her prison time to further her studies.
McNab believes that Marcel can be reintegrated into society; she will however benefit from long-term therapy and drug intervention. She believes this should start as soon as possible, while she is still in prison. She explained that there are structures in place to assist Marcel once she comes out of prison and she will be able to reintegrate with a community.
