Velia Strydom, a mother from Knysna, was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend, Mervyn Bock, who, soon after, Googled “how to get away with murder”.
Family spokesperson and Strydom’s uncle, Warrick Langisa, said her four children were struggling to come to terms with her death.
“As one might imagine, it is incredibly hard for her kids. The youngest is only 12 years old and taking it very hard,” Langisa said.
Strydom was allegedly killed by Bock at his Trotter Street flat in Knysna in December. Her body was then wrapped in a sheet and dumped. Her decomposing body was found six days later.
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Bock was arrested, charged with her murder and defeating the ends of justice, and later denied bail.
According to the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mqondisi Dyani, Bock allegedly Googled “how to get away with murder”.
Dyani told the Knysna Magistrate’s Court that a witness had been with the couple at a club on December 5, where Bock allegedly grew agitated and aggressive towards Strydom before grabbing her and forcing her out.
Dyani said CCTV footage showed Bock entering his flat with Strydom that night, and leaving alone the next day.
He allegedly returned in a vehicle borrowed from a friend, and footage showed him carrying what appeared to be a body and loading it inside
When police arrived to arrest Bock on New Year’s Day, Dyani testified that he tried to flee by jumping off the balcony.
Officers seized his phone and allegedly found a string of disturbing internet searches, including “how long will it take to heal from strangulation”, “how long does the body take to get cold after being dead” and “people who get away with murder”.
Bock pleaded not guilty.
The case returns to court on August 5.
Bock is now due to go on trial in the High Court on August 5.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Chris Spies said a post-mortem had been conducted to establish the cause of death, and that the findings formed part of the investigation.
Seven months on, her children were still coming to terms with the fact that they would never see their mother again.
“They ask about our mom, and though we are all different ages, the pain is the same,” Langisa said.
“Losing her has left a hole in all our lives. They remind each other of how much she loved them and how proud she was to be their mom. We talk about her often because we never want her to become just another headline.”
Langisa said the family missed her, even now and again phoning her, forgetting in that moment that she had died.
