Deceased Mpumalanga woman found in boot: Accused appears in court

The Mpumalanga man found with the body of a deceased woman in the vehicle he was driving in Moreleta Park, Pretoria, is due to again appear in court on September 2.

According to an article published by Pretoria Rekord, Cuan Karelse (21), from Standerton in Mpumalanga, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday in Moreleta Park after he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle which contained the dead body of the vehicle’s owner, Reneé Lea (57).

He appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana says Karelse is facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and a charge of murder.

Karelse is accused of murdering Lea, also from Standerton, before making off with her car and appliances.

Mahanjana says that on Friday afternoon, the accused allegedly slipped into the deceased’s residence as she was driving in her vehicle.

“It is alleged that the accused tied her up, robbed her of her belongings, wrapped her [in] a carpet, put her in the boot of her car and drove to Pretoria.”

When Lea’s daughter could not reach her by phone, she called a tracker company to locate the car.

“The tracker company located the car at a petrol station in Moreleta Park, while the accused was inside the shop,” says Mahanjana.

She says petrol attendants identified the accused as the person who was driving the vehicle.

“The tracker company personnel apprehended the accused. When they opened the boot of the car, the deceased’s body was found with cables around her neck and her mouth covered with tape.”

Mahanjana says tracking company officials called the police and the accused was arrested and remanded in custody.

After his brief court appearance, the matter was postponed to September 2 for bail information and for a Legal Aid attorney to consult with the accused, she adds.

“The state intends to oppose bail in the matter,” Mahanjana says.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo says preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle was stolen in Mpumalanga on Friday evening.

It is believed that Lea was killed during a house robbery, he adds.

“The suspect allegedly ransacked the house before killing the victim, putting her in her Range Rover and driving off with it.”

Tributes pour in

Ridge Times reported yesterday that the student councils of Standerton High School and Standerton Elementary School gathered to lay flowers at the entrance of Pick n Pay where Lea was the co-owner with her husband Graeme.

Lea was described not only as a mother, wife and businesswoman but also a pillar in the community.