Werner de Jager‘s bid for freedom was denied as his bail application was rejected by the Amanzimtoti Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal.
Werner de Jager denied bail
The decision was met with approval from Liezel de Jager‘s parents, Henk and Salomé van Zyl, per Action Society.
The magistrate, citing concerns for the welfare of de Jager’s minor children who are currently under the care of Liezel’s parents, highlighted the potential risk de Jager poses not only to himself but also in potentially influencing his children, who may testify against him.
The prosecution posits that Werner de Jager’s motivations for the murder of Liezel were financially driven, as evidence shows he adjusted Liezel’s will and took out several life insurance policies in her name.
These actions, coupled with a reported extramarital affair de Jager was engaged in, paint a picture of premeditated murder, according to the state.
Despite these allegations, de Jager has denied all charges, including the purported confession post-arrest detailing his involvement in the murder.
State yet to add two more murder charges
In addition to the charge of premeditated murder of his wife, de Jager is implicated in a separate incident that resulted in the deaths of Linda Cornelia Eales and her mother Berniece in a car accident on the N1 highway near Kroonstad.
Initially investigated as culpable homicide, the charges have been upgraded to murder following assertions of de Jager’s reckless decision to drive, exacerbated by his dementia condition.
This development adds a significant dimension to de Jager’s legal battles, with the Director of Public Prosecutions intensifying the charges against him.
We covered the case before Werner de Jager’s arrest in an episode of our Unsolved Murders SA podcast. Tune in below.