South African Student Accused Of Murdering Teacher, Admits To Wearing Victim’s Clothes
A South African student, accused of murdering a teacher in Sandton, is facing conflicting evidence regarding his whereabouts on the morning of the crime.
The State presented cellphone location data placing the accused at George Lea Park at 7:35 am on October 29, 2023, the same morning Kirsten Kluyts was raped and murdered. This contradicts the student’s claim that he arrived at the scene after 9 am.
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During the bail application in Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, the State presented evidence, including a picture of Kluyts at 8:05 am when she arrived for the event.
CCTV footage from that day showed the accused entering the park, approximately 100 meters behind Kluyts, dressed in a black T-shirt and pants. The accused denied stalking her, asserting that the CCTV footage was from a different time.
The accused, a 21-year-old Varsity College student, took the stand to argue for bail, denying any involvement in the murder. He claimed to have discovered Kluyts’ body, initially intending to help her, but upon realizing she was dead, he removed her clothes to avoid leaving fingerprints or DNA at the scene.
He admitted to stealing and wearing her T-shirt, later discarding the clothes in a drain.
When questioned by the State about not reporting anonymously to the police, the accused expressed unfamiliarity with the procedure and reluctance to be involved with law enforcement.
He stated that he informed the caretaker, his father, and his girlfriend about the incident five days later, asserting that he should be charged with theft and obstructing justice.
The accused questioned the denial of bail, pointing out that he remained in Parkmore for four weeks after the crime until his arrest on November 26.
He emphasized that if he intended to flee, he had ample opportunity to do so. Facing charges of rape, premeditated murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances, the student’s identity remains protected until the start of the trial. The bail hearing is set to continue on Wednesday.
Kluyts, a 34-year-old teacher at Delta Park High, was found dead at the George Lea Recreational Park in Parkmore. She had participated in an athletic event on the day of her murder but did not finish the walk. The court learned that she was 14 weeks pregnant at the time.