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Farmer apparently confessed
17/07/2007 10:37 - (SA)
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| The remains of Elizabeth Martiens were found in a water tank. (Die Burger) |
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Tisha Steyn, Die Burger
Prince Albert - A well-known farmer from Leeu-Gamka appeared in court on Monday after the remains of a 13-year-old girl were found on his farm and he admitted trying to rape her before strangling her.
The farmer and his wife appeared in court on a charge of murder after the remains of Elizabeth Martiens, 13, was found in a water tank on one of his farms, Weltevrede, 25km from Leeu-Gamka.
According to court documents Pieter Botes from the farm Welgemoed is also standing trial on two charges of indecent assault of two teenaged girls aged 12 and 15 from an area near the farm.
Their parents filed a charge on June 19 and he appeared in court in Leeu-Gamka for the first time on June 22.
Angry community
Botes was supposed to again appear in court on these charges on Thursday, but the case was removed from the court roll. No reason for the removal, nor a next court date were noted down on the charge sheet, according to a clerk of the court in Prince Albert.
Meanwhile Botes, 36, and his wife, Sonette, 39, were arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder of Elizabeth, who disappeared on April 13 after Botes had promised her father, one of his employees, that he would take her to her mother, Johanna Mouers, in Merweville.
The girl, whose parents have been estranged for the past 12 years, was visiting her father at Die Hoewes, one of Botes's other farms, for the holidays.
The couple was again questioned on Friday.
During questioning Sonette Botes allegedly admitted that she had lied to the police when she earlier said she had accompanied her husband to Merweville because she apparently tried to cover for him. Botes, who earlier said he had dropped Elizabeth off at the corner of the school, took the police to Weltevrede on Friday, where he pointed out the water tank.
According to a reliable source, Botes apparently admitted that he went directly to Weltevrede on April 13. According to the source he tried to rape her, but she struggled. He strangled her and dumped her body in an empty water tank. He covered the open tank with sheets of metal. The police cut open the tank on Friday and found the remains.
Merweville and Leeu-Gamka residents were transported to the court in Prince Albert on Monday. At about 09:00, close to 300 poster-bearing people were waiting in front of the court building.
Couple held separately
Some of them banged fists on the police vehicle transporting the couple to the court.
Botes, dressed in jeans and a khaki jacket, and his wife was escorted into the packed courtroom with jerseys over their heads.
Some of the posters read "The pigs murderers" and "Leave our children alone".
Provincial minister of social development, Kholeka Mqulwana attended the court proceedings.
Family of the couple living on Welgemoed didn't want to comment. "All I can tell you is that the whole family is very traumatised," said a female family member.
The couple's next court appearance is scheduled for Friday. Sonette Botes is expected to be charged with perjury and will apply for bail, said Ntoneko Mangqwengqwe, a police spokesperson. Botes will apparently apply for bail at a later stage.
Botes is being held in George prison, while his wife is being held at the prison in Oudtshoorn.
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