The husband of Reverend Liezel de Jager, Werner, has appeared in the Amanzimtoti Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with the murder of his wife.

Anticipation mounted for the suspect’s appearance as by 13:00 he still had not made his way to the dock as the prosecutors were perusing his thick docket.

The South Coast Sun was told by a court staffer that there were more than 300 pages the prosecutors had to go through.

Werner was arrested in Bloemfontein during the early hours of Friday. His arrest is in connection with the murder of Liezel who was found strangled in her yard in October 2021.

His arrest was the first time an arrest was made in the case.

Handcuffed and shackled, the suspect with his head down, shuffled into the building under police guard and made his way to the court’s holding cells.

The case has been postponed to December 7 for a formal bail application.