EVANDER – Ms Karen van Heerden and Mr Darello Soetmelk, the two people who were arrested at the beginning of August in connection with the murder of Evander butcher, Mr Mervin van Heerden, again briefly appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 13 December.
Mr Van Heerden disappeared at the beginning of August and police officially declared him missing on 3 August.
They found the murder scene at the Karmer Butchery on Thursday 2 August, but no body.
A special police task team headed by Capt Simon Zakhile Mlotshwa arrested Ms Van Heerden, who is the ex-wife and business partner of Mr Van Heerden, and Mr Soetmelk on Saturday, 4 August after which the pipe in which the severely charred body was pointed out on Sunday, 5 August.
Ms Van Heerden was released on a warning on 6 August.
She is accused of accessory after the fact, as the state wants to claim that she had known about the murder.
Mr Soetmelk, an employee of the butchery, appeared with her in the docks.
He was also released on a warning. He is facing charges of concealing a crime.
The case was postponed to 30 January.
The duo is still out on a warning to appear in court.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/121078/police-nab-two-for-murder-in-the-butchery/
