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Kerkorrel's sister's doubts
15/11/2002 07:35 - (SA)
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| Sonja Barkhuizen, sister of Ralph Rabie (Johannes Kerkorrel), with one of the horses on Rabie's farm. (Yunus Mohamed)
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Die Burger
Cape Town - Johannes Kerkorrel's sister does not believe money was behind her brother's alleged suicide.
Sonja Barkhuizen, Ralph Rabie's sister, said: "There was no indication that he was in financial trouble."
Ralph Rabie was singer Johannes Kerkorrel's real name. His bloodied body was found on Tuesday afternoon near Kleinmond in the Western Cape. He was hanging from a tree by his belt.
His friend Demetrios, who identified his body that afternoon in the Hermanus police morgue, in a statement to police said he believed financial troubles might have been behind the suicide.
But Barkhuizen said: "Ralph was on the verge of releasing his next CD. I cannot understand why he would have wanted to commit suicide. A lot of questions are going to be asked?"
She said she did not know what he wrote in the note apparently left behind.
"I just hope his music lives on. What happened is so sad. We appreciate the public's calls, e-mails and faxes. He was such a good guy. I just want people to keep loving him," she said.
Neighbours said Rabie had spent a lot of money on home improvements and had recently bought a third horse.
An Grobler, Rabie's ex-wife, said she couldn't comment on his financial position. She said the smallholding had at first been registered in her name, but Rabie had taken it over from her. He had been living there for the past three years.
She said Rabie and their 19-year-old son Ruben had their own agreement regarding maintenance.
A neighbour, Carl de Villiers, said: "He was a very open person and said so when something bothered him.
"He had a vision to improve the neighbourhood and spent a lot to improve his house. When we last spoke he was very positive. There was no sign of depression."
Dr Selby Frank of Caledon refused to discuss the autopsy report.
On Thursday afternoon, the investigating officer had not yet collected the autopsy report from Frank. Police spokesperson Captain William Reid said the officer had been "occupied by other cases".
Reid told News24 that two family members had approached police with a request not to release the report to the media. "We will honour their wishes."
He said the premature release of the autopsy report could jeopardise the investigation, and that the Caledon court would have to give permission for the report to be released.
Late on Thursday a date had not yet been set for the judicial inquiry.
Die Burger, however, learnt that there were four cut or stab wounds on Rabie's neck.
The neck arteries had apparently not been hit. At first it appeared that he had wounds on his forearms, but it was probably blood running from his neck. - News24/Die Burger/Beeld
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