Murder: Steak knife a clue?
2003-06-06 20:59
Johannesburg - The Johannesburg High Court heard on Friday that the knife used to cut away Maria Bouwer's underwear was found in a kitchen draw of the Kempton Park home she shared with her husband, Colin.
He is currently on trial for her murder.
Superintendent Thomas Steyn told the court that he arrived at the Bouwer home about 20:00 on May 7, 1999.
He said the lower part of Bouwer's body was naked and that her clothing was still on her body but had been pulled down. Her underwear was missing and she had bruising around the neck.
During a search for evidence Steyn said his suspicions were aroused by a steak knife which had marks on it similar to a human's lips.
He said it looked as though someone had held the knife in their mouth to have their hands free. Minute particles of material fibre were found in the serrations of the knife.
Collin Bouwer, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and defeating the ends of justice, showed no emotion at the time, Steyn said.
On Thursday, former police inspector Pieter van Wyk, who was also called to the scene, testified that he had found no evidence of forced entry.
He said the neighbour who lived opposite the Bouwers had not seen any suspicious people in the area.
Colin Bouwer met his wife at school. Their child was seven months old at the time of the murder and is now almost five.
Ironically Collin Bouwer's father, also named Colin, was convicted in New Zealand and given life imprisonment almost two years ago for the murder of his wife.
The older Bouwer's wife, Annette died in 2000 after many weeks of ill health. It was subsequently found that her death was caused by hypoglycaemic drugs obtained by her husband with false prescriptions and administered by him.
The trial continues on Monday.
- SAPA