Man killed mother-in-law
2003-06-10 08:49
Ronel Bester
Cape Town - Amanda Fourie, 23, sat with a grim expression in the High Court here as her ex-husband Erefaan Cassiem of Mitchell's Plain was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, indecent assault and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Cassiem offered Jason Patrick - since deceased - R500 to murder Fourie's mother Roselina Vester. The court accepted Fourie's testimony that Patrick and Cassiem had indecently assaulted her and found Cassiem had tried to murder her by strangling her until she lost consciousness.
She was eight months pregnant at the time of the attack in July 2001.
Forensic pathologist Dr Linda Liebenberg testified Vester was probably first stabbed in the back, then strangled, raped and struck against the head with a blunt object.
The court heard police found a bloodstained steel pot in Vester's room. There were bloodstains on the walls and ceiling.
At first Cassiem claimed in court Fourie had planned her mother's murder, but later admitted he'd been lying.
Knoll said Vester was opposed to her daughter's marriage to Cassiem. Shortly before the murder she'd decided to sell her house where Fourie and Cassiem also lived. On the day of the murder, Fourie told Cassiem she wanted to end their relationship. Cassiem testified this had enraged him.
- Die Burger