Crowds gather ahead of family murder case

Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christel, 43, who along with their daughter, Marthella, 14, were shot dead. Picture: Lizell Muller

Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christel, 43, who along with their daughter, Marthella, 14, were shot dead. Picture: Lizell Muller

Published Aug 23, 2012

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 Griekwastad, Northern Cape - Crowds have gathered at the Griekwastad Magistrate's Court in the Northern Cape ahead of the expected appearance of a teenage boy in connection with a family murder.

The boy cannot be named as he is a minor.

Friends and relatives of the Steenkamp family, killed on their farm Naauwhoek in the Northern Cape on Good Friday, had arrived at the court. Media were also present.

A magistrate from the neighbouring town of Groblershoop was expected to hear the case after the local magistrate recused himself.

Some media groups had applied for permission to be present in the courtroom for the boy's appearance, but it was not yet clear whether they would be allowed.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.

Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and their daughter Marthella, 14, were shot.

Police said at the time that Steenkamp's son, Don, 15, heard shots fired while he was busy in an outside storeroom around 6.30pm.

He discovered the bodies in the living room and drove to the police station in town to report the killings.

He also handed two firearms over to police, which he said he had found at the scene. - Sapa

 * Comments were inadvertently opened on this article, and have been closed. This is protect the identity of the minor in the case.

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