Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Relief as murder suspect faces trial in February
MORTIMER Saunders, accused of raping and murdering a 3-year-old girl, has been referred for trial in the Western Cape High Court in February.
The body of Courtney Pieters was discovered on May 13 in Bofors Circle, Epping Industria.
Saunders, 40, boarded in the backyard of the girl’s home in Pluto Street, Elsies River.
Courtney went missing on May 3 and her body was discovered 10 days later. Her killing sent shock waves through the country, prompting President Jacob Zuma and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, among others, to visit the family.
In the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court yesterday, prosecutor Dandridge Neethling said the investigation was complete. The trial was set down from February 5 until March 1. The pre-trial conference will take place next month.
Cheers reverberated from Court A down the passage, and a Pieters family member shouted expletives as Saunders was taken to Pollsmoor’s awaiting-trial section.
Outside court, surrounded by family and friends, Courtney’s father, Aaron Fourie, said he was happy at the latest developments in the case.
The postponements had frustrated the family.
“I’m happy, now I can finally sleep. Now he’s going to be in Pollsmoor, among men.”
When he saw Saunders in court, he “wanted to choke him”.
A visibly shaking Chrystel Arendse, Courtney’s cousin, said the moment took her back to the 10-day search for Courtney, in which she had taken part.
“As family, we didn’t miss a court date. I’m so happy and you can see the family is happy. This is the first time I’ve seen them smile and be this happy. We’re happy about the case being taken to the High Court.”
Fourie said Juanita Peters, Courtney’s mother, had only recently started the process of coming to terms with her daughter’s death.