Cape Town - Murder victim Johan Kieser, who was allegedly injected with heroin and thrown off a cliff near Ceres last month, was one of South Africa’s best known dog breeders and a sought-after judge at dog shows.
Kieser, 65, was about to go to the UK as a judge at the high-profile Anglian Boxer Show, but died a week before he was due to preside, says a prominent British dog breeders’ magazine.
Two women and a man have been arrested in connection with his death and appeared in the Moorreesburg Regional Court on Monday.
Linda Siebrits 38, Charise Doubell, 32, and Hendrik Boonzaaier, 30, are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, being in possession of drugs and the obstruction of justice.
Siebrits was said to have stated that she was a prostitute and that Kieser was her client.
Kieser had retired to Moorreesburg shortly before his death.
On Tuesday, chief prosecutor Wian Smit said Kieser was not yet well known in the town.
In court, investigating officer Elrico Isaacs testified that Kieser was still alive but unconscious when he was thrown off a cliff on Mitchell’s Pass near Ceres.
Kieser and the three accused had met at Kieser’s house, where they allegedly used drugs and then decided to go for a drive.
Isaacs said the accused told police Kieser was injected with heroin so they could get his bank card and pin number to draw money to buy more drugs. But then it appeared that he had been overdosed.
The case continues in the Moorreesburg Regional Court on April 29. Kieser leaves a daughter, Jeanne.
Kieser had retired to Moorreesburg shortly before his death. He had given up breeding boxers and only had two elderly pets with him, said Doreen Powell, chairwoman of the Western Province chapter of the Kennel Union of South Africa.
At the time of his death he was chairman of the Breede River Valley All Breeds Kennel Club. Nobody at the Breede River Valley club could be tracked down in time for comment.
“Johan Kieser, a wonderful dogman, will be remembered in so many facets of dogdom in South Africa and internationally,” said Powell. “He was a highly thought-of man and an excellent judge at shows.”
Cape Argus