Couple murder: five face trial

Five people accused of the murder of a Mooinooi couple will go on trial in the High Court in Pretoria in March next year.

Koos Strydom, 52, his wife Marchia Strydom, 22, Alex Modau, 36, and two Mozambican brothers appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, according to court records.

Their case was postponed for trial in the High Court in Pretoria from March 11 next year.

The two Mozambican brothers, who are accused one and three on the charge sheet, are facing charges of rape and could not be named until they have pleaded.

The state alleges that the accused kidnapped, robbed and killed Joey van Niekerk, 32, and Anisha van Niekerk, 30, of Mooinooi outside Brits on December 10 last year.

The same-sex married couple went missing on December 10.

They had left to go to a funeral in Pretoria but did not arrive.

Their burnt car was found on December 16, in the Magaliesburg area.

The five are all facing two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of theft and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The two Mozambican brothers, Modau and Koos Strydom are in custody, while Marchia Strydom is out on a R20 000 bail. –ANA