Franziska accused admits to rape, murder
THE MAN who allegedly murdered 16-year-old Franziska Blöchliger in Tokai Forest last year will know his fate today.
In a shocking twist during his murder trial in the Western Cape High Court yesterday, Howard Oliver from West Lake, admitted to robbing, raping and then killing the teen. The 28-yearold faces a count of murder, two counts of rape and robbery with aggravated circumstances. In his admission, Oliver told how he overpowered and raped the Kalk Bay teenager.
His new lawyer Henk Carstens read the admission out in court. It states: “When I grabbed the deceased from behind, I went for her neck to prevent her from making any noise and to demobilise (sic) her immediately. When I dragged her body deep enough into the fynbos so no one could see us, I then went through the process of removing her cellphone, earphones and ring. I tied a shoelace around her hands and mouth and I decided to rape her…”
He said he realised he had mistakenly sodomised Franziska after finding it “difficult to rape her”. “After that I got dressed,” the court heard.
Forensic pathologist Dr Sipho Molozi stated the cause of death was suffocation. Blood and sand were found in her airway and lungs.
“The deceased may have felt a lot of pain. It is my opinion that excessive force was used. There was manual choking before suffocation.
“She was choked unconscious, but was still alive. The suffocation in the sand was the final blow and was the cause of death.”
The State has asked for life sentences for the rape and murder, and an additional 15 years for the robbery with aggravated circumstances. Judgment will begin today.