De Jager murder case: Husband charged with murder
Reverend Liezel de Jager's husband, Werner, will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
THE murder case against Werner de Jager, the husband of Reverend Liezel de Jager, who was killed at her home in October 2021, has been postponed to December 7 for bail application.
Werner made his first appearance in court on November 27 after he was arrested on November 23 in Bloemfontein. The prosecuting team spent most of the day perusing the case’s file, which is some 300 pages thick, before Werner could stand in court.
Also read: Reverend de Jager’s birthday observed amid stalled case
Liezel was strangled to death as she returned from a morning jog with friends. Werner told the police that he discovered her lifeless body on the driveway. None of her valuables, including her wallet and cellphone, were taken.
Action Society, a civic rights organisation that has been speaking on behalf of Liezel’s parents, said the family is relieved that Werner has been formally charged with the murder.
“It took 775 days to see Werner in handcuffs. We hope that today will be the only delay in the court process and that justice will be swift. It was both a relief and a bitter day. Liezel’s family is relieved that her case is finally moving forward and very thankful for the team from the National Cold Case Investigation Unit, who took over the case,” said Ian Cameron, director of Community Safety at Action Society.
The National Cold Case Investigation Unit took over the case two weeks before the arrest was made after the old investigating team was removed from the case as a result of apparent incompetence.
Werner will remain in custody until his next appearance.
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