Mosselbayontheline

08/03/2026

Nog nuwe skok-onthullings in Kareedouw-saak . . .

05/03/2026

“Stephan must simply stick to his story. The man with the most money will win the case.”

These were among the strange words and behaviour of Dr Lawton Vosloo of Jeffreys Bay two days after the deaths of his son and his son’s fiancée in the controversial Kareedouw murder case. The Hoon family say these remarks prompted them, already after the joint funeral service, to seek the assistance of renowned private investig*tor Mike Bolhuis. When it became clear that Bolhuis’s services would be too expensive, they appointed another private investig*tor, Leon Rossouw, to allay their fears and attempt to find answers to troubling questions.

These revelations by the traumatised Hoon family come a week after sentencing in the contentious case in which the well-known Kareedouw farmer, Kevin Pretorius (53), was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment without bail for the alleged “gassing death” of Jéan Vosloo (25) and Mari Hoon (28) in the shower of the popular Kouga Kliphuis on Pretorius’s family farm, Zuuranys.

Pretorius’s neighbour’s son, Stephan du Plessis (now 30), discovered the couple in the shower on the Sunday morning after he had invited them, with Pretorius’s permission, to come and braai and relax there free of charge, even though the Kliphuis was officially closed to guests during the Covid-19 lockdown. Pretorius has been held in the high-security St Albans prison since last Friday while awaiting a court date for his new legal team’s appeals against the conviction and sentence.

Sakkie (66) and Maria (61) Hoon and their two daughters, Michelle (40) and Suné (36), have for five years carried a double burden of disturbing questions and uncertainties surrounding the strange death of their beloved youngest daughter and sister.

Since the rapid cremation and joint funeral service on 2 May 2020, arranged by Dr Vosloo and his wife Christel in Jeffreys Bay, they have been trying to get someone in authority to pay attention to their questions and objections. This follows alleg*tions that the Vosloo couple had already removed all the couple’s clothing and belongings on the same day the bodies were found in the shower on Sunday morning, 26 April 2020. Some of the clothing was also washed by the Vosloos, and reddish-brown stains on Mari’s jersey that they claimed they could not remove were dismissed as red wine stains.

Dr Vosloo allegedly also declared the couple dead at the scene himself and has since played a leading role in all aspects of the police and post-mortem investig*tions, the autopsy, cremation and joint funeral service — all of which were completed within a week.

When Suné and her husband Rudi went to the Vosloos’ home in Jeffreys Bay the afternoon after the funeral service and insisted on getting Mari’s cellphone back — which the Vosloos had earlier refused to return with her other belongings — they were allegedly told the phone could not be returned because the police needed it. Suné then suggested that they meet the Vosloos the following day at the Kareedouw police station where she would hand in Mari’s phone if the Vosloos would also submit Jéan’s phone. This apparently caused the Vosloos to change their minds.

“If there is anything on this phone that contributed to my son’s death, I will sue you and your entire family.”

Dr Lawton Vosloo allegedly went to fetch the phone, which was sealed in a zip-lock bag, and angrily handed it to her with those words. Suné says she was so taken aback that she replied: “But they died of carbon monoxide poisoning — how could something on the phone have caused their death?” Vosloo allegedly responded only: “No, no — I’m just saying.”

The Hoon family were so traumatised by the strange circumstances in which the couple died, the inadequate police investig*tion — in which no cellphone analyses or proper cross-examinations were conducted — and the swift cremation, that they all lost their jobs and at one stage lived and worked together on a farm.

What particularly continues to haunt the two Hoon sisters is the scene in the mortuary in Jeffreys Bay. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there was a massive backlog with autopsies and the waiting list was reportedly three to five weeks. Thanks to Dr Vosloo’s influence they apparently managed to move quickly at the Jeffreys Bay mortuary.

When the Hoon sisters had to rush Mari’s favourite clothes there on 29 April 2020 and insisted on doing her make-up themselves for their final farewell, Mari was reportedly deathly pale compared to Jéan’s purplish-red colouring. There was also allegedly a deep dark indentation on the right side of her skull, blood on her left ear and a wide white plaster around her neck.

When they asked the undertaker about this, he allegedly said it was due to the autopsy. When asked why Jéan did not have similar marks or a plaster on his neck, they were allegedly told it was “because he received a different type of autopsy”.

Rossouw, the private investig*tor who has since reportedly disappeared, said when approached that he could not obtain access at the time to the original police photographs and court records, even though he worked through an attorney as is customary. Both he and the Hoons personally contacted the state prosecutor, Johan Jansen, to pass on new information, but he allegedly said he was not interested and did not work with private investig*tors.

According to Rossouw, he later also brought WhatsApp messages between Mari Hoon and a friend in Pretoria to the attention of Kevin’s attorney, Alwyn Griebenow, to confirm contradictions in the state’s timeline. Griebenow was supposed to call him back later, but apparently never did.

The Hoon sisters both spoke publicly in recent weeks in separate interviews after the involvement of forensic expert Dr David Klatzow and the appointment of a new Cape legal team led by Advocate Francois van Zyl.

Suné said in candid discussions that the Hoon family had suspected from the beginning that something was wrong and had searched for answers, but because of limited funds they could not conduct further investig*tions themselves.

“Dr Lawton’s strange words and behaviour so soon after their deaths, and Stephan’s testimony that he knows nothing about what happened that night, were very strange and disturbing to us. Also the extremely rapid autopsies, cremation and funeral within a week before any investig*tion had been conducted or before we could even begin to process our grief and properly say goodbye to Mari.”

They had wanted Bolhuis or a private investig*tor to examine the original autopsy reports and check the cellphone records of Stephan and Jéan, but when Rossouw achieved nothing and did not return to them, they no longer knew what to do.

“Even when the state prosecutor showed no interest in following up our information, we were astonished. But these things still eat away at our family like a cancer and prevent us from finding closure,” she said.

Michelle Hoon and her husband Niel also revealed in an interview with Dr David Klatzow that the couple were not as happy as media rumours had suggested and that Jéan was extremely possessive and jealous. He allegedly often took Mari’s phone and confronted her aggressively. Michelle also confirmed the remarks Dr Lawton Vosloo had made at the time in the presence of witnesses in a signed statement.

At Kevin Pretorius’s very first court appearance — when he was suddenly formally charged with double murder — Mari’s mother Maria specifically informed the state prosecutor Johan Jansen about the questions and irregularities troubling them. She also told him about a disturbing late-night WhatsApp conversation Mari had on the night in question with a family friend in Pretoria.

This nearly hour-long conversation from 22:29 to 23:19, in which Mari apparently wanted to reveal “serious matters”, contradicted Stephan’s testimony that Jéan and Mari had gone to shower at about 20:30 and 21:00 respectively and were supposedly overcome by carbon monoxide. Jansen reportedly said they could not introduce that information because it would harm the state’s case.

Suné said:
“When our family arrived in Jeffreys Bay on 28 April, all of Mari’s clothes and belongings had already been removed from the cottage on the Kenmore farm where Mari and Jéan had lived together and were neatly stored in the Vosloos’ garage.”

The couple and several other young people lived and worked on the Kenmore farm of Grasslands Agriculture about 37 km outside Kareedouw.

“Aunt Christel (Vosloo) gave us Mari’s weekend and make-up bags, as well as the clothes she had worn at the Kliphuis. She cried and said she wanted to return the clothes clean. She said she could not remove the reddish-brown stains on the jersey where Mari had probably spilled red wine on herself. She also gave us Mari’s earrings, but not her engagement ring or cellphone. When my mother asked about it, she said Jéan had worked hard and paid a lot for it and she had decided to keep it herself because they were not yet married.”

“It was extremely upsetting for our parents that they could not pack Mari’s belongings themselves in the places where she had lived and spent her final night. My parents then went with Aunt Christel to their accommodation on Kenmore while Michelle, her husband Niel and I stood outside with Dr Vosloo waiting. It was then that Dr Vosloo suddenly said: ‘Stephan must just stick to his story. The man with the most money will win the case.’”

“We were stunned, because it was only two days after their deaths and there had been no talk of a court case yet as everyone still saw it as a tragic freak accident.”

Other aspects troubling the Hoons are that Mari allegedly still had her earrings in when the couple were found naked in the shower. According to the sisters it had always been a family tradition never to shower or sleep wearing earrings or jewellery.

When the Hoons first visited the Kouga Kliphuis on 1 May 2020, there was no sign of a cordoned-off crime scene. There were splashes and stains that looked like blood near the steps of the braai area, and when Stephan was asked about it he allegedly said it was sauce and juice from the boerewors they had braaied on the Saturday night. Other similar splashes that were photographed in a bedroom and in the shower were apparently never questioned or investig*ted. Neither were strange finger and drag marks on the inside windows of one of the bedrooms.

The Hoons are struggling to find closure while so many unanswered questions continue to trouble them.

“We felt sorry for Pretorius from the beginning because we believed he would never deliberately cause anyone’s death, but we also wanted answers and justice. When all the evidence against him began emerging in court without counter-evidence from his legal team, we started believing that he must be guilty, even though all the other issues still troubled us.

“It was only when all the questions we have struggled with from the beginning began appearing in the media and Dr Klatzow confirmed everything that we regained the courage to fight for the full truth about what really happened that night. We are not hateful and do not seek revenge — we only want the full truth to come out so that we can understand, justice can be done and we can find closure.”

Two families mourning a beloved child, brother and sister. The Vosloo family (left) believe a beloved Kareedouw farmer must pay with imprisonment for their son’s death so that they can find closure; the Hoon family believe the full truth must first emerge before they will truly be able to make peace with the death of their beloved daughter and sister.

While the controversial and exhausting court case continues after five years, family and friends of Kevin — who have visited the Kouga Kliphuis for years — helped in December 2025 to clean and renovate the building and surroundings after it had stood empty for so long. The hundreds of people who have spent wonderful times there over the past 25 years remain firmly behind him in proving his innocence.

A crowdfunding campaign has meanwhile been launched to raise funds for his legal costs:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-kevin-pretorius-fight-a-grave-injustice

24/02/2026

A MURDER SENTENCE IS WRONG – THE CASE DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOLUS EVENTUALIS – Adv Francois van Zyl

Why was this critical evidence suppressed for five years in the protracted Kouga Kliphuis court case?

On Friday morning, almost a year after well-loved Kareedouw farmer Kevin Pretorius was convicted of double homicide with intent (dolus eventualis) for the tragic deaths of the engaged couple Jéan Vosloo and Mari Hoon in the shower of his Kouga Kliphuis river lodge in 2020, a group of hopeful friends formed a protective circle of support and encouragement around him before sentencing was due in this drawn-out and controversial case in the Gqberha regional court.

A few hours later, there was not a single dry eye among them or in the entire Kareedouw community when Pretorius was led to the holding cells before being taken to the high-security St Albans jail.

Magistrate Vuziwe Mnyani’s groundbreaking sentence of ten years’ effective imprisonment for each murder to be served concurrently without bail pending appeal sent shockwaves through judicial circles and caused an immediate uproar on online media platforms.

The torrent of comments on online news platforms mostly portrayed disbelief, anger and resentment at the inconsistency and injustice of the SA judicial system.

“Serial rapists, druglords and violent murderers get bail or are acquitted on some technical issues, but one of the kindest people you will ever find who only tried to do his neighbour a favour is now sent to jail for ten years? Without even bail pending appeal? There is something VERY wrong here!” “How can this be murder if he was not even at the scene?” “That man would not even hurt a fly – why would he deliberately do something that could harm anyone?” “This is outrageous and an abomination of justice!” “Culpable homicide at the most- murder? No way! “

“Visited that place 3 times and experienced nothing out of the ordinary. The gas installation worked 100%. Carbon monoxcide is a byproduct of combustion. It is not used to fill gas cannisters.”

“She basically just rubber-stamped her verdict and used Kevin as a scapegoat for the thousands of unintentional carbon monoxide deaths that occur annually in South African households!”

“The tragic death of two young people are devastating to their loved ones, but destroying the life of an innocent man who did them a favour in a crusade for blame-shift and revenge will never lessen their loss or bring closure.” “Far too many inconsistencies and unanswered questions in this case that was never investig*ted or revealed – hopefully it can still be addressed in appeal?”

Online media platforms erupted with torrents of angry comments following the severe sentence Magistrate Vuziwe Mnyani slapped on Pretorius on Friday for the tragic death of Jéan Vosloo and his fiancée Mari Hoon.

The couple’s bodies were found under very suspect circumstances in the shower of Pretorius’s Kouga Kliphuis river lodge on his farm Zuuranys on the long weekend of 27 April 2020 during the height of Covid-19 restrictions. The couple was invited by their friend, Stephan du Plessis, of the neighbouring farm, after obtaining permission from Pretorius to use the facilities for free and at their own risk, as the Kliphuis was officially closed and abandoned during the Covid-19 lockdown.

What truly happened after the group’s arrival on late Saturday morning until their bodies were found the next morning has remained a mystery throughout the trial. Du Plessis, the only witness, testified that Vosloo went to shower around 20:30 and that Mari joined him shortly afterwards. He then went to sleep and only started looking for them the next morning when he discovered their bodies in the shower. If, when and how long the couple went to shower, never came out in the lengthy trial, but cellphone records of Mari Hoon proved that she was still active on her phone until 23:19. Jéan Vosloo’s long showering habits were well-known among his friends . . .

Autopsy reports apparently showed lethal levels of carbon monoxide (70%) and blood alcohol levels of 0,10 and 0,12 respectively, and it was established that the chimney flue of the shower’s gas geyser was somehow missing on that day and resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning, which caused their deaths.

Carbon Monoxide is odourless and cannot be smelled

Mnyani found that Pretorius had shown little remorse, disregarded safety requirements and ignored warnings regarding the defective gas installation, thereby endangering his guests. The court referred again to the “multiple warnings” Pretorius received, which in fact are only the three “friends of friends” of the Vosloo family who only came forward after the tragedy and testified how they smelled gas and got severely sick after showering in the Kliphuis in 2019. Ironically, in the same instance, it was stressed that carbon monoxide is odourless, which exacerbates its danger as a silent killer.

Heartrending victim impact statements describing the deep and lasting pain suffered by the families of Mari Hoon and Jéan Vosloo were again presented.

In mitig*tion, the defence, led by newly appointed adv. Francois van Zyl SC presented reports from a probation officer and social worker, stressing the impact that this protracted court case had on Pretorius and his two teenage daughters. He argued Pretorius was a first-time offender with strong community ties and suggested a non-custodial sentence would suffice.

Murder sentence is WRONG

Van Zyl argued that a murder sentence is wrong because the incident did not meet the legal requirements for dolus eventualis. He said the conviction of murder was a “bridge too far” and that the incident, where two guests died, was closer to a “punishable accident” or, implicitly, a lesser charge such as culpable homicide, rather than intentional murder.

Mnyani granted Pretorius leave to appeal his conviction and sentence due to the “very unusual” nature of the case, and said another court could potentially reach a different decision. Yet, she refused bail pending appeal after state prosecutor Johan Jansen objected due to the gravity of the crime. He implied Pretorius must be a serious flight risk, as he had enough money to afford another top legal team at this late stage.

The new Cape Town legal team, led by senior advocate Francois van Zyl and assisted by advocate Christopher Quinn and instructing attorney Cornel Stander from Stander Attorneys, were only brought in last month after forensic expert Dr David Klatzow discovered serious discrepancies and the “worst investig*tion he has seen in his 40-year career”.

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2026/01/14/forensic-expert-dr-david-klatzow-reveals-shocking-new-evidence-in-kouga-kliphuis-tragedy/

The case was shrouded in a cloud of controversy, suspicion and media sensation from the start, following a most sensational Carte Blanche programme initiated by Dr Lawton Vosloo and aired in June 2020 before any test results were even available. When Kevin Pretorius, one of the most well-loved and respected residents of Kareedouw was suddenly accused and convicted of double homocide with intent (dolus evantualis) the entire Kareedouw community and former Kliphuis guests stepped forward like an army to help prove the injustice and find answers to critical questions.

Klatzow’s expertise was brought in only in December 2025 after Pretorius was found guilty of double homicide, and it became apparent that the Defence had no intention to pursue crucial evidence and failed to traverse critical issues that materially hampered the defence. WHY? During a period of almost five years:

* No scientific forensic expert or investig*tor was consulted

* The Defence never visited or investig*ted the scene themself

* No proper cross-examination of the only eye-witness Stephan du Plessis, who initiated and planned the entire outing to the Kouga Kliphuis during strict Covid-19 restrictions

* No cellphone records of the involved parties were checked to confirm witness statements, determine whether other guests were also invited or to get an idea of the time frame of events

* No proper questioning or cross-examination of the medical doctor who conducted both autopsies and prepared both post-mortem reports, although she had no specialist training or qualifications in forensic pathology

* No mention of the serious and intimate WhatsApp conversation that Mari Hoon had with a family friend in Pretoria from 22:40 to 23:19 on that fatal night, which changes the entire time frame presented in court. This information was shared with the state in 2020 already

* Never questioned the discrepancy in colour between the two deceased following an alleged carbon monoxide death, with telltale physical characteristics

* Never questioned the presence of blood in the shower or braai area.

* No questioning why the Hoon family felt the need to appoint an independent detective when they realised no proper investig*tion was being done and that Stephan’s story did not comply with the evidence.

Also interesting how this tragedy was being sensationalised and used as a political tool to suddenly address the high prevalence of unintentional and unreported carbon monoxide deaths in South African households that go totally unnoticed.

Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo welcomed the outcome.

He stated: “This matter underscores the serious legal oblig*tions resting on individuals who operate facilities open to the public. Those who ignore safety standards and place lives at risk for financial gain must expect to face serious criminal consequences. The NPA remains steadfast in holding such offenders accountable.”

CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS IN SA

Based on available research, data on carbon monoxide (CO) deaths in South Africa are often underreported, but estimates indicate a significant burden, particularly in winter, due to the use of indoor heating, such as coal-fuelled braziers (imbawula), and poor ventilation. Western Cape GovernmentWestern Cape Government +1

Key Findings on CO Deaths in SA:

Child Mortality: Indoor air pollution, which includes carbon monoxide, is linked to the deaths of approximately 1,400 children under the age of five annually in South Africa due to acute lower respiratory infections.
General Household Exposure: Earlier estimates from the South African Medical Research Council suggested that indoor air pollution caused approximately 2,489 deaths annually.
Incidents in 2024: Multiple, separate incidents in July 2024 resulted in numerous deaths, including a reported 7 deaths in one week due to imbawula use in enclosed spaces.
Regional Context (Cape Town): In the Western Cape, between 2015 and 2023, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services recorded over 100 calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Broader Context: While specific national CO-only death figures are hard to isolate, broad indoor air pollution is a major contributor to over 42,000 annual air pollution-related deaths, which includes particulate matter (PM2.5). Western Cape GovernmentWestern Cape Government +4
Primary Sources of Risk:

Imbawula (Coal-fuelled braziers): Used for heating and cooking in informal settlements.
Faulty Appliances: Faulty chimneys, stoves, and LPG gas appliances.
Generator Fumes: Improper use of generators indoors during power outages. Western Cape GovernmentWestern Cape Government +3
It is important to note that many cases, particularly in informal settings, may not be officially recorded, meaning the true number of fatalities could be higher than documented.

Regional Context (Cape Town): In the Western Cape, between 2015 and 2023, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services recorded over 100 calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Broader Context: While specific national CO-only death figures are hard to isolate, broad indoor air pollution is a major contributor to over 42,000 annual air pollution-related deaths, which includes particulate matter (PM2.5).

* PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS CIVIL AND APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS - NO RACIAL, PERSONAL, HURTFUL OR SLANDEROUS COMMENTS.

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2026/02/24/a-murder-sentence-is-wrong-the-case-does-not-meet-the-requirements-for-dolus-evantualis-adv-francois-van-zyl/

24/02/2026

Why was this critical evidence suppressed for five years?

On Friday morning, almost a year after well-loved Kareedouw farmer Kevin Pretorius was convicted of double homicide with intent (dolus eventualis) for the

18/02/2026

In nog ‘n dramatiese nuwe wending in die opspraakwekkende Kareedouw-tragedie is ‘n Kaapse senior regspan op die vooraand van vonnisoplegging op 19 en 20 Februarie 2026 ingebring.

Die aanstelling van die nuwe regspan onder leiding van senior advokaat Francois van Zyl, bygestaan deur adv. Christopher Quinn en opdraggewende prokureur Cornel Stander van Stander Attorneys, volg kort ná die toetrede van forensiese kenner Dr. David Klatzow in Desember 2025 om antwoorde op pertinente vrae te probeer kry wat nooit in dié voortslepende saak ondersoek of beantwoord is nie.

Lees meer hier:

Wat het met Mari Hoon gebeur nadat haar "diep" Whatsapp-gesprek met 'n familievriend om 23:19 onderbreek is en sy net stilgeraak het?

18/02/2026

Nuwe omwentelinge kort voor vonnisoplegging in omstrede Kareedouw-tragedie . . .

In nog ‘n dramatiese nuwe wending in die opspraakwekkende Kareedouw-tragedie is ‘n Kaapse senior regspan op die vooraand van vonnisoplegging op 19 en 20 Februarie 2026 ingebring. Die aanstelling van die nuwe regspan onder leiding van senior advokaat Francois van Zyl, bygestaan deur adv. Christopher Quinn en opdraggewende prokureur Cornel Stander van Stander Attorneys, volg kort ná die toetrede van forensiese kenner Dr. David Katzlow in Desember 2025 om antwoorde op pertinente vrae te probeer kry wat nooit in dié voortslepende saak ondersoek of beantwoord is nie.

Die uitgerekte saak spruit uit die tragiese gebeure waarin ‘n jong verloofde paartjie, Jéan Vosloo (25) en Mari Hoon (28), gedurende die langnaweek van 27 April 2020 onverklaarbaar dood aangetref is in die stortgedeelte van die badkamer in die gewilde Kouga Kliphuis op die oewer van die Kouga-rivier buite Kareedouw. Die saak het ‘n ongekende mediasensasie veroorsaak wat uit die staanspoor net gefokus was op gaslekkasies en koolstofmonoksiedvergiftiging.

In ‘n onverwagse wending is die eienaar van die plaas Zuuranys, Kevin Pretorius (53) skielik van dubbele moord aangekla en in Maart 2025 in ‘n baanbreker-beslissing deur landdros Vuziwe Mnyani, skuldig bevind omdat hy nie tydens die Covid19-inperkings geweet of voorsien het dat die skoorsteenpyp van die stort se gasgeiser uit die stortmuur verwyder is nie. Hoe en wanneer dié pyp uit die muur gekom het in die maand wat die Kouga Kliphuis tydens die Covid19-inperkings in onbruik was, is steeds ‘n raaisel. Die skielike afwesigheid van dié pyp wat skadelike gasse na buite herlei, is egter die enigste faktor wat moontlik tot koolstofmonoksiedvergiftiging kon lei.

Pretorius se oorspronklike hoëprofiel-regspan, die bekende Oos-Kaapse prokureur Alwyn Griebenow en senior adv. Peter Daubermann, het intussen om onverklaarbare redes verkies om hulle eerder aan die saak te onttrek as om in ‘n ondersteunende hoedanigheid saam met die nuwe Kaapse regspan te werk.

Klatzow se ondersoek het kritieke inligting ontbloot wat nooit in die uitgerekte hofsaak genoem is nie en wat na bewering wel destyds onder die staat se aandag gebring is, maar bloot geïgnoreer is. Omdat die nuwe regspan so kort voor vonnisoplegging ingeroep is, kon vonnisoplegging nie op so ‘n kort kennisgewing uitgestel word vir dringende aansoeke om appèl en hersiening van die saak om dié ongerymdhede en onbeantwoorde vrae te ondersoek nie. Dié dringende aansoeke sal waarskynlik nou ná vonnisoplegging op 19 en 20 Februarie in die streekhof in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) gebring word.

AGTERGROND:
Die gewilde Kouga Kliphuis waar honderde vriende en besoekers die afgelope 25 jaar naweke en vakansies kom deurbring het, was sedert Maart 2020 amptelik gesluit vir gaste tydens die Covid19-inperkings. Geen dienste, onderhoud of toesig is in dié tyd gedoen nie. Pretorius se buurseun, Stephan du Plessis (nou 30), het destyds toestemming gevra of hy en ‘n paar vriende desondanks tydens die langnaweek op eie verantwoordelikheid daar kan kom kuier en braai.

Aangesien die Du Plessis-familie as vriendskaplike bure al lank die grond vir weiding huur en die plaas en Kliphuis goed ken, het Pretorius later goedgunstiglik ingestem dat hulle gratis en op eie verantwoordelikheid daar kan kom braai en ontspan, solank hulle hom nie steur of pla nie.

Du Plessis het getuig dat hy die betrokke Saterdagaand vroeg gaan slaap het en eers die volgende oggend die paartjie se lewelose liggame in die stortgedeelte van die badkamer gekry het. Volgens sy getuienis het Jéan al omstreeks 20:30 gaan stort en het Mari hom kort daarna gevolg. Hy het hulle glo nie weer daarna gesien nie, hoewel selfoonbewyse toon dat Mari nog tot 23:19 in ‘n intieme Whatsapp-gesprek met ‘n Pretoriase familievriend was.

Van die kritieke vrae wat nooit die afgelope ses jaar bevredigend beantwoord is nie:

Wat het Jéan se geliefde Rottweiler, Kaizer, daardie noodlottige nag so getraumatiseer dat hy kort daarna uitgesit moes word omdat hy onhanteerbaar aggressief geraak het? Hoe is dit moontlik dat Stephan du Plessis nie deur die hond wakker gemaak is as Kaizer so getraumatiseer was nie? Jy nooi tog nie gaste na ‘n plek waar hulle nog nooit was en gaan slaap dan vroeg voordat jy weet hulle (en hul hond) is goed ingerig en gemaklik vir die nag nie?

Hoeveel vriende het Stephan du Plessis destyds genooi om daardie naweek by die Kouga Kliphuis te kom kuier en braai as hy en Jéan Vosloo AGT bottels Karriebier wou koop saam met al die ander drank wat ook op die toneel gevind is? ‘n Betroubare bron het bevestig dat Stephan ‘n paar dae voor die noodlottige naweek twee bottels Karriebier by ‘n plaaslike kuierplek in Kareedouw bestel het. Op die betrokke oggend het Jéan Vosloo en sy verloofde, Mari Hoon, daar opgedaag om die Karriebier te ontvang. Jéan wou egter nog ses bottels hê, maar die eienaar het gesê hy het nie meer nie.

Hardekkige gerugte dat ‘n groot groep van Stephan en Jéan se vriende wel vroeër die dag ook langs die rivier en by die Kliphuis was, kon nooit bevestig word nie. Die ander vriende wat saam sou kom kuier en almal op een van Trevor Elliot se naburige plase werk, het na bewering van plan verander en nooit Saterdag opgedaag nie. Jéan se viertrekvoertuig moes egter die Sondag deur ‘n trekker van Stephan se Pa, Henry du Plessis, uitgesleep word waar dit naby die rivier vasgeval het.

Niemand weet wie en wanneer daar langs die rivier gekuier is nie. Die vraag bly egter hoe soveel leë drankbottels wat op die toneel gevind is, deur net drie mense gedrink kon gewees het in so ‘n kort tydjie – veral as in ag geneem word dat Mari meesal wyn en nie harde drank gedrink het nie en Stephan glo al 21:00 gaan slaap het? Die relatief lae bloedalkoholvlakke van 0,10% en 0,12 % onderskeidelik in albei slagoffers se bloed druis ook reëlreg in teen die hoeveelheid drankbottels wat op die toneel gevind is. Dit is ook baie onwaarskynlik dat Mari en Jéan presies dieselfde bloedalkohol- en koolstofmonoksied-vlakke sou hê as wat in die outopsieverslag bevind is?

Die feit dat Stephan nooit getuig het wat en of hulle gebraai het en/of wat en wanneer hulle geëet het nie, is ewe vreemd as die feit dat die maaginhoud van die oorledenes nooit in die nadoodse ondersoek ontleed is om ‘n benaderde tyd van dood te probeer bepaal nie. Is dit nie standaard-prosedure in so ‘n geval nie?

Die dokter wat blykbaar albei outopsies sonder toesig of bystand uitgevoer het en ook albei verslae saamgestel het, dr. Poshani Cooposamy, het volgens haar eie getuienis in die hof in daardie stadium nog net vier maande as mediese dokter in die forensiese patologie-departement van die Uitenhage Provinsiale Hospitaal gewerk en was dus nie ‘n gekwalifiseerde patoloog wat sonder toesig of bystand van ‘n geregistreerde forensiese patoloog outopsies kon uitvoer nie – veral nie in so ‘n ernstige dubbele moordsaak waar die presiese oorsaak van dood van kardinale belang is nie. Hoekom is haar kwalifikasies en ervaring nooit in die hof bevraagteken nie? Forensiese patologie is tog ‘n spesialisveld wat minstens vier jaar gevorderde studie en intensiewe eksamens verg weens die gevorderde mediese/regsaspek wat dié spesialisveld dek.

Suurstofvlak-toetse wat ná die tragedie deur ‘n kenner met ‘n kers in die stort gedoen is, het bevind dat die kersvlam ná ‘n driekwartier steeds sterk gebrand het. Die watertenk en gasbottel was ná die tragedie dolleeg. Hoe lank moes iemand dan in die stort gewees het om weens koolstofmonoksiedvergiftiging te sterf – veral as die g*t in die stortmuur waar die skoorsteenpyp moes wees, genoeg ventilasie sou verskaf saam met die groot wateruitlaatg*t op die stortvloer? Boonop is die ruwe en onafgewerkte klipgebou en dak nie dig verseël soos ‘n baksteenhuis s’n nie en is daar oral openinge waar lug inkom. Die stort is deel van ‘n oopplan-badkamer en daar is ook geen stortdeur wat ventilasie beperk nie.

‘n Whatsapp-gesprek wat Mari Hoon op die betrokke aand vanaf 22:29 tot 23:19 met ‘n familievriend in Pretoria gevoer het, druis ook lynreg in teen Stephan du Plessis se tydlyn en die algemene veronderstelling wat in die hof geskep is dat Jéan omstreeks 20:30 gaan stort het en dat Mari hom ‘n tydjie later gevolg het en albei in die stort deur koolstofmonoksied oorval en vergiftig is. Dit sou beteken het dat die paartjie drie uur lank gestort het?

Dit is baie onwaarskynlik dat Mari ‘n private gesprek met ‘n familievriend in die stort of badkamer sou hê waar Jéan by is en dus kan afgelei word dat sy minstens ‘n uur lank NIE by Jéan in die stort was nie en dus baie korter blootgestel sou wees aan koolstofmonoksied? Tog is hul liggame langs mekaar in die stort gekry met dieselfde koolstofmonoksied-vlak van 70%?

Sou Mari ná daardie intieme en private ontboesemingsgesprek met ‘n huisvriend weer saam met Jéan gaan stort het? Die waarskynlikheid hiervan is baie skraal en verduidelik ook nie die feit dat die koolstofmonoksied hulle dan blykbaar nie tydens die eerste stortsessie oorval het nie, maar eers drie ure later?

Staat se getuies
‘n Standaard geregtelike doodsondersoek is ná die tragedie begin en twee maande ná die voorval, is ‘n Carte Blanche-program aangebied waarin “vriede van vriende van vriende” van Dr. Lawton Vosloo en sy vrou, Christelle, in hartverskeurende detail vertel hoe hulle tydens ‘n besoek aan die Kliphuis in 2019 gas geruik en ná ‘n stortsessie skielik baie siek geraak en by die dood omgedraai het.

Ná die tragedie het hulle na vore gekom en getuig hulle glo dit “moes koolstofmonoksiedvergiftiging gewees het” hoewel nie een van hulle ooit positief getoets het daarvoor nie en koolstofmonoksied totaal reukloos is. Dié Carte Blanche-uitsending waarin die aanbieders nooit vooraf aangedring het op mediese bewyse van koolstofmonoksiedvergiftiging nie, het die verloop van die ondersoek en saak oornag verander en beïnvloed. Skielik was alle klem op gastoestelle en die gas-geisersilinder met sy skoorsteen (flue) wat die gas na buite herlei.

Geen aandag is verder gegee aan die presiese gebeure van die betrokke dag en aand nie en Stephan se uiters karige “getuienis” dat hy vroegaand gaan slaap het en niks weet nie, is onseremonieel aanvaar . . . selfs al het dit nie sin gemaak nie.

Toe Kevin hoor hy word skielik aangekla van dubbele moord, moes hy dringend regsverteenwoordiging kry. As eenvoudige plaasboer wat selde buite Kareedouw kom en niks weet van regsaangeleenthede nie, moes hy by vriende rondvra wat hom te doen staan. Hulle het die befaamde Oos-Kaapse prokureur Alwyn Griebenow aanbeveel wat bekendheid verwerf het met sy verdediging van berugte beskuldigdes in hoëprofielsake soos die Panayiotou-moordsaak en die reeksmoordenaar Stewart “Boetie Boer” Wilkens.

Skuldig deur assosiasie.

Hierdie goedgunstelike “raad” om so ‘n bekende regsverteenwoordiger aan te stel, was egter die begin van Kevin se hel wat hom dalk van die begin af ‘n regverdige verhoor gekos het. Griebenow het teen daardie tyd ‘n reputasie gehad dat hy opperste skelms en moordenaars verteenwoordig en by implikasie “moes Kevin dus ook skuldig wees” anders sou hy nie so ‘n prominente en berugte regsverteenwoordiger nodig gehad het nie.

Dié publieke gevolgtrekking is ook in die hofsaak gehuldig deur die staatsaanklaer Johan Jansen wat dit al met sy eerste kennismaking met Kevin tydens kruisondervraging genoem het. Boonop het die magistraat Vuziwe Mnyani en Griebenow ook ‘n lang geskiedenis en het hy al in ‘n vorige saak versoek dat sy vervang word weens haar “partydigheid” en openlike voorkeur aan die staat.

Griebenow is bygestaan deur die ewe omstrede voormalige adv. Peter Daubermann wat deesdae as prokureur praktiseer. Hy het destyds erg deurgeloop onder kritiek en betogings van hofgangers omdat hy die Nigeriese pastoor Timothy Omotoso verteenwoordig het wat tereggestaan het op 32 klagtes van verkragting, seksuele aanranding en mensehandel. Die uitgerekte saak waarin Omotoso en sy twee mede-beskuldigdes uiteindelik almal in die Gqeberha Hoër Hof vrygespreek is op alle aanklagte, is steeds ‘n groot bron van omstredenheid in SA regskringe.

“The high court have found Nigerian televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, not guilty of 32 charges including r**e, sexual assault and human trafficking. In her ruling judge Irma Schoeman said the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Omotoso was arrested eight years ago while his co-accused were out on bail.

https://www.facebook.com/dispatchdd/posts/peter-dauberman-the-lawyer-representing-r**e-accused-nigerian-pastor-timothy-omo/10156232489447779/

Lawyer representing r**e-accused Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso‚ has asked presiding officer Judge Mandela Makaula to recuse himself from the case.

Sedertdien het die Kareedouw-saak net een rigting gevolg ondanks GEEN stawende bewyse nie. Geen poging is aangewend om al die hangende vrae te beantwoord of teenstrydige bewyse in te samel nie. In Maart 2025 is Kevin deur Mnyani in ‘n skokkende “baanbreker-bevinding” skuldig bevind op twee klagte van moord met voorbedagte rade.

https://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2026/01/11/kareedouw-tragedie-wanneer-die-regstelsel-die-grootste-oorsaak-van-onreg-en-korrupsie-in-n-samelewing-raak/