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Dad held for brutal murder
18/07/2007 23:37 - (SA)
Annelene Moses and Sapa
Johannesburg - The pieces of a murder the police described as "puzzling" last year, seemed to have fallen into place when Rudi Venter appeared in court in connection with his wife's death.
Rene Venter, 33, was beaten to death with a baseball bat in their home on August 31.
Police spokesperson Eugene Opperman said Venter, 35, was arrested by Mondeor police after the court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Venter's clothes were sent for forensic testing after police found inconsistencies in his account of the event.
Opperman said:"The reports were received back from the laboratory recently. Astonishing evidence emerged."
Bloodied bat lay next to her
Venter told police last year how he had discovered the body of his wife at their home in Olivedale on the West Rand.
He said she had been lying on the floor in a short passage between the main bedroom and the bathroom.
She had been battered repeatedly about the head, neck and torso with a baseball bat. The bloodied bat lay next to her.
Venter told police that after he had dropped their sons Renier and Andrew off at school, he saw two men fleeing when he returned home and opened the garage door.
The house had been surrounded by an electrified fence and there was apparently no sign of a forced entry.
Venter was arrested in Bryanston, where he works as a graphic designer.
Venter, who appeared to be very confused in the court room, approached the dock in a grey jersey and black pants and did not know quite where to stand.
In response to magistrate Awie du Plooy who asked if he had a lawyer or needed help to get one, he said: "I don't have an attorney and I don't know what to do."
He said he still had to "make some enquiries".
Du Plooy said he should indicate if he changed his mind later and wanted access to legal aid.
Venter is to remain in custody at the Mondeor police cells until July 25, when a formal bail application will be heard.
René Venter first made news as a "miracle baby" when she was born in Bloemfontein's National Hospital at 28 weeks, weighing just 1.106 kg.
- News24
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