The man accused of killing the mother-in-law of celebrity Soli Philander will be sentenced on Friday.
Simon Matshwane (20) will hear his fate in the Parys Magistrate’s Court on Friday, said Philander’s wife, Toni, who will attend the sentencing with her family. Court prosecutor Amanda Bester said it will take place at 9.30am.
Beeld newspaper reported on Thursday that Matshwane pleaded guilty to theft, housebreaking, robbery with aggravating circumstances and the rape and murder of 72-year-old Eugene Schaefer at her Parys home on May 26 last year.
A plea of not guilty was, however, noted in court records.
After admitting guilt, he told the court that he did not have the intention to kill or rape.
He testified on Wednesday that he used a condom so that he could not be implicated in the crime. It further emerged that he worked in the vicinity of her home. He had been watching Schaefer and, as a result, knew she lived alone.
The court heard earlier this week that Schaefer had sustained 38 stab wounds to her face and neck, Beeld reported.
Matshwane was arrested at his home in Parys three days after the attack. Free State police said at the time that items belonging to Schaefer were found in his possession. — Sapa