/ 6 August 2004

Ten appear in court for ‘necklace’ murders

Ten people, including three women, arrested in connection with the ”necklace” murder of three men in Jeffrey’s Bay, appeared briefly in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

They are still in police custody and their formal bail applications are expected to be heard on August 18, 19 and 20.

”Initially seven suspects appeared in court on Wednesday but we arrested two women and a man on Wednesday evening,” said police spokesperson Captain Gavin Baker.

Baker said the court had ordered hat the suspects not be identified until further notice.

Kerneels Swart (23) Sam Booysen (19) and Sakkie Blaauw were necklaced on Sunday by a group of people who believed they had raped a young girl.

  • ”Necklacing” was a feared method of murder during the apartheid years and was a common method of killing people believed to be police informers. – Sapa