HUNDREDS of hartseer residents from Montague Village are set to gather at Wynberg Magistrates Court on Thursday to oppose the release of a man accused of strangling a mom of six to death.
Two months after being called to the horrific crime scene in St Christopher Street, the family of Moerieda Adams, 42, says they are fighting to keep her berk, 25-year-old Joshua Cloete, behind bars.
A 65-year-old relative, who asked not to be named, says the family were left devastated and had not spoken publicly about the incident until now.
Speaking to the Daily Voice, she said the woman who worked as a teacher’s assistant at Hillwood Primary was declared dead on 18 January while at her boyfriend's home.
She explains: "Moerieda has six children and on the day of the incident she was sleeping at her boyfriend’s house. She was a teacher’s assistant at Hillwood Primary School and very good at her job.
"But she had a drug problem and they were using tik and Mandrax together. That morning we were called to his house and she was lying on a mattress fully-clothed. She had marks on her neck and there was blood on her jacket.
"The police took long to come and the ambulance later said she was dead."
The relative says angry mense marched on Cloete’s home and dragged him to a nearby bush where they moered him.
She adds: "He was handed over to the police and taken to Retreat Day Hospital. We were later told that he escaped from hospital and went on the run."
She added that Moerieda was laid to rest several days later as the family was informed that the cause of death was strangulation.
While all the details of her death remain unknown the family was informed that Cloete has since been traced and made his first appearance in the Wynberg Magistrates Court last Thursday.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the arrest and says: "Be advised that Steenberg SAPS detectives are investigating a murder case.
"A 25-year-old suspect was arrested for charges of murder and his next court appearance is on 20 March. The accused is still in custody."
Moerieda’s family insist they are not aware of any cases of abuse prior to the murder, as the couple had only been together for three weeks at the time of her death.
The relative adds: ‘We know that the police questioned his sister but let her go. We do not know what led up to this or if she was abused because they were only together for three weeks.
"We have started a petition to fight for justice for Moerieda and we will be opposing his bail application.
"So far we have just over 100 signatures and are still going around the community to get more which we will hand to the prosecutors on Thursday and calling on the community to stand with us."
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