NELSPRUIT – The chief superintendent of traffic of Mbombela Municipality, Mr Johan Heunis (57), briefly appeared in court on Friday for the murder of Ms Michelle Curgenven (35) in July last year.
The case was postponed to April 29 for trial in the Gauteng Circuit of the High Court in Nelspruit.
Curgenven worked with Heunis who allegedly had romantic feelings for her, but she did not want a relationship with him.
She was shot dead in her garage on July 4 last year. Curgenven lived in a security complex, Tussen Berge with her two sons. On the day of the shooting, she came home from work at about 11:00. Her domestic worker later said Heunis was with her and that he told her to leave at about 13:00 that day.
Head of Mbombela’s traffic department, Mr Eddie Prollius called Curgenven’s father, Mr David Meyer at 16:54 and told him that Heunis had phoned in tears saying he had done “a terrible thing.”
Curgenven ‘s family members then began searching for her and requested the help of Mr Jacques Meiring of Bossies Community Justice and Hi-Tech Security.
Along with the police they went to the victim’s house where they found Heunis at the scene.
After a long period of negotiations with Heunis who apparently threatened to shoot himself, he eventually gave the key to the garage where Curgenven’s body had been discovered.
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