Cape Town - A Cape Town woman accused of murdering and burying a mother and a daughter in their own backyard will be spending Christmas behind bars.
Levonna Jacobs, 34, was hunted down by detectives last week after family and neighbours dug up the decomposing bodies of what is believed to be Virna Jacobs, 47, and her only child, Rowena Jacobs, 25, at their home in Delft-South.
While the victims have not been officially identified, the bodies were found in two holes, two metres apart, allegedly still dressed in the clothing the mom and daughter wore on the day they disappeared in August.
Jacobs, who was arrested on Thursday, made her first appearance at the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where she was charged with murder.
Meanwhile, three male tenants arrested shortly after the bodies were found last Tuesday were released from police custody on Thursday.
A nervous and tired looking Jacobs entered a packed courtroom, greeting friends and family.
Dressed in a blue T-shirt, she glanced anxiously at her family when she heard she would have to spend more time in jail.
The matter was postponed to December 30 for a bail investigation.
Jacobs’ relatives refused to speak to the Daily Voice after court proceedings.
Jacobs is the niece of Virna’s deceased husband, Donovan Jacobs, 46, and moved into the house after his murder in March.
Donovan was allegedly killed by a tenant during an argument over a burger.
Both Virna and Rowena witnessed the killing.
The tenant was charged with murder, and the charge has been provisionally withdrawn.
Virna’s sister, Jillian Dreyer, 52, says they became suspicious after huge holes were dug in the backyard, which were later covered with cement.
Jacobs allegedly told relatives that Rowena had moved to Malmesbury, while Virna had relocated to Namaqualand after receiving an inheritance.
Jillian, 52, wants Jacobs to stay behind bars until her trial.
“I am still very sick to my stomach and I can’t sleep, we are so traumatised. We pray to God she doesn’t get bail,” she says.
The family is still waiting for police to complete their post-mortems before they can bury Virna and Rowena.
“We cannot bury them because we do not know what the cause of death is yet, or when the post-mortems will be done,” adds Jillian.
Daily Voice
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