CAPE TOWN – The mother of murdered three-year-old Courtney Pieters has continued giving evidence in the trial of Mortimer Saunders.
Saunder has pleaded guilty to a charge of murder but insisted it was not premeditated. He also admitted to necrophilia-sexual act involving corpses.
But he pleaded not guilty to raping the little girl last year. Saunders made a surprise apology to Courtney’s mother, saying he wanted to apologise to Juanita Pieters to what he had done but Juanita said she had forgiven him but she will never forget.
The State has refused to accept the Saunder’s admissions, which means the two not guilty pleas have been entered into the court record.
Juanita Pieters testimony was filled with tears as she told the court she feels hurt and said she partly blames herself for her daughter’s death because she left her children unattended on the day Courtney disappeared. Courtney was lefted in their bedroom with her six year old brother, the day she disappeared.
Pieters said earlier in court that she recognised Saunders as the man who was seen on CCTV footage dumping the body of her daughter, she did however admit that she did deny knowing him as she was in “shock” when the police come forward with the evidence.
Photo Credit- ANA Photo
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