Liezel de Jager murder case ‘can’t go any further’
A law expert says the murder case of Amanzimtoti pastor Liezel de Jager won't go any further with the death of her accused husband.
The Correctional Services Department says Werner de Jager passed away in a Durban hospital yesterday from medical complications.
It says the 45-year-old was admitted over a week ago.
Werner had been facing a premeditated murder charge following his wife's murder in October 2021.
Criminal law lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Llewelyn Curlewis, says while the State cannot prosecute a deceased person, there is another option the victim's family could pursue should they wish.
"Indirectly, the court itself will insist on receiving the certificate of death, signed by a medical practitioner to confirm that the deceased has passed on. Once that has been submitted in court, it will be the end of the criminal trial.
"The only thing left for the family of the victim is to proceeded with the civil law suit against the deceased estate of the accused - that is on the assumption that there is a civil case to be made out."
Eureka Olivier of the local rights group Operation Bobbi Bear was among the activists who consistently attended the case at the Amanzimtoti Magistrate's Court.
She says Werner's death won't bring Liezel's family any closure.
"The heart-breaking part is Werner died with the final answer of what happened that morning, and there is no closure. With the help and counselling, Liezel's parents and the two children will eventually get through this and accept it somehow."
