Bouwer 'acted suspiciously'

2003-06-09 19:01

Johannesburg - The behaviour of a Kempton Park man - now on trial for murdering his wife - aroused police suspicion, the Johannesburg High Court heard on Monday.

Sergeant Gert Hendrik du Plessis said as investigations progressed he became suspicious that Collin Bouwer was guilty of the murder of his wife.

Du Plessis said Bouwer did not act like a bereaved husband, and as time went on he continued to act strangely. He said Bouwer would phone, not to find out how the investigation was progressing, but to further discuss his alibi and to say he had seen suspicious people in the vicinity of his property.

"I felt he was trying to mislead me," said Du Plessis.

It was established that Ria Bouwer had her hair done on the day she was strangled in May 1999. Du Plessis said Collin Bouwer provided a string of places, including a chemist and a garage, in support of his alibi that he was not at home when his wife was murdered.

Further evidence by Du Plessis was that neither Ria Bouwer's bag or purse were missing although the accused later claimed money had been taken from her purse. Ria Bouwer's body was found on the floor of the guest bathroom. State witnesses had earlier told the court there was no sign of forced entry.

A set of missing keys was found three months after the murder.

Defence lawyer Jan Moller put it to Du Plessis that the keys were found when carpeting was lifted to tile the bathroom.

Moller also put it to Du Plessis that the accused had told him he suspected a certain Andrew Otto, as he had allegedly threatened Ria Bouwer before the couple's wedding.

Fingerprint expert Captain Dawid Grobler testified it seemed unlikely Ria Bouwer was attacked and murdered in the small guest bathroom where her body was found. His evidence was that not one single fingerprint was found there while it was obvious Mrs Bouwer would have put up a struggle when she was being strangled. There were no fingerprints from outsiders at the purported murder scene.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

- SAPA