'Kind' woman plotted her husband's death
9 February 2010, 13:58
By Jade Witten
Court Reporter
Few Stilbaai residents were as "kind, generous and friendly" as Ruby Marais, the woman found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her wealthy husband, the Swellendam Circuit Court has heard.
Cornelia Meiring, a close friend of the murdered Basie Marais, who was killed through the well-executed plan of Ruby Marais and three others, took the stand on Monday.
Meiring testified that she and her husband had known the couple for about three years before the October 7, 2006 murder of Basie outside his Jongensfontein house in Stilbaai.
And while Basie had visited the Meirings daily, Ruby had accompanied her husband to their home only twice, she told the court.
Meiring recalled that Ruby had been very quiet while seated at their dining room table.
From as early as 3am every day, Basie had worked with Meiring's husband in his fish trading business.
"After the harbour, (Basie Marais) would come to our house and ask for (toast) and tea," Meiring said.
"He would often speak to us about his wife."
Basie complained that "Ruby and her Bible verses" irritated him, Meiring said.
He also spoke of divorcing his wife, but could not do so because he would first have to remove her name from all her assets.
He would then "fly around Africa and never return".
"He said he wanted to take her assets," Meiring told the court.
There were occasions when Meiring went shopping at Ruby's clothing boutique and found that she was a "kind, generous and friendly person".
Meiring said Ruby had even financially assisted a worker who testified against her during the trial.
"There were (few) needy people in the town that she didn't help. She helped the poor and at the old-age home."
Ruby, 45, her former domestic employee, Hester Afrika, 46, knifeman Ricardo Piedt, 27, and Elizabeth Lawerdien, 52, were found guilty of murder last year.
The four have the opportunity to bring evidence to convince the court that exceptional and compelling circumstances exist to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for premeditated murder.
Only Ruby and Afrika - the link between her former boss and the other co-accused - have decided to call witnesses with the aim of securing a lesser sentence.
Grizelle Marco, the advocate representing Afrika, was on Monday expected to call her client and two other witnesses to the stand.
The case continues.
Court Reporter
Few Stilbaai residents were as "kind, generous and friendly" as Ruby Marais, the woman found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her wealthy husband, the Swellendam Circuit Court has heard.
Cornelia Meiring, a close friend of the murdered Basie Marais, who was killed through the well-executed plan of Ruby Marais and three others, took the stand on Monday.
Meiring testified that she and her husband had known the couple for about three years before the October 7, 2006 murder of Basie outside his Jongensfontein house in Stilbaai.
And while Basie had visited the Meirings daily, Ruby had accompanied her husband to their home only twice, she told the court.
Meiring recalled that Ruby had been very quiet while seated at their dining room table.
From as early as 3am every day, Basie had worked with Meiring's husband in his fish trading business.
"After the harbour, (Basie Marais) would come to our house and ask for (toast) and tea," Meiring said.
"He would often speak to us about his wife."
Basie complained that "Ruby and her Bible verses" irritated him, Meiring said.
He also spoke of divorcing his wife, but could not do so because he would first have to remove her name from all her assets.
He would then "fly around Africa and never return".
"He said he wanted to take her assets," Meiring told the court.
There were occasions when Meiring went shopping at Ruby's clothing boutique and found that she was a "kind, generous and friendly person".
Meiring said Ruby had even financially assisted a worker who testified against her during the trial.
"There were (few) needy people in the town that she didn't help. She helped the poor and at the old-age home."
Ruby, 45, her former domestic employee, Hester Afrika, 46, knifeman Ricardo Piedt, 27, and Elizabeth Lawerdien, 52, were found guilty of murder last year.
The four have the opportunity to bring evidence to convince the court that exceptional and compelling circumstances exist to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for premeditated murder.
Only Ruby and Afrika - the link between her former boss and the other co-accused - have decided to call witnesses with the aim of securing a lesser sentence.
Grizelle Marco, the advocate representing Afrika, was on Monday expected to call her client and two other witnesses to the stand.
The case continues.
- This article was originally published on page 6 of The Cape Argus on February 09, 2010
Pretoria
