Killing frenzy: Answer in diary

2003-11-01 07:23

Marida Fitzpatrick

Johannesburg - The suspected Heidelberg murderer, who killed three adults and a toddler during a stabbing frenzy, apparently assaulted, threatened and hit his former fiancé on numerous occasions.

Lena Pieterse, the mother of Liz-Marie Minny, 19, one of the victims, said her daughter had been "very scared" of her former fiancé.

"We know of at least two incidents where he assaulted her. Once he literally tore the clothes off her body," she said.

Pieterse is convinced Minny was expecting an attack on her by her former fiancé. "The day before she died she sorted out a lot of things. For example, she bought her sister a present. I think that in a way she knew what was waiting for her."

Pieterse said Minny's ex-fiance had broken her spirit. "He fought a psychological war against her. I was very worried about her safety," said Pieterse.

Since January this year, Minny had apparently tried to break off the relationship on a number of occasions "but she took him back each time he threatened her", she said.

He apparently threatened to attack her boyfriends or get gangs to do something to them.

Pieterse said she considered calling in police, but "Liz-Marie insisted she speak to police herself. But I don't know if she ever did so".

Minny's parents rented a flat for in Heidelberg, but she moved in with her fiancé after he threatened to kill her if she lived alone.

The man apparently threatened Minny often after she broke off their engagement in August. The day before she was murdered she even changed her cellphone number.

Pieterse and her husband, Herman, believe Minny's diary could shed light on her final stormy days. "She wrote everything in her diary. Many of our questions will be answered if we could read that book," she said.

Police suspect the killer took her diary after he killed his victims. "He knew it would point a finger at him," said Pieterse.

The suspect is being treated for gunshot wounds in the Natalspruit Hospital and is under police protection. Once discharged from hospital he will be charged with at least four counts of murder.

- Beeld