KNYSNA NEWS - Almost a decade later, the high-profile murder trial of Shantel Zeelie started in the Knysna Circuit Court this week, on Monday 19 February.
Zeelie was killed in January 2009 and her body hidden under bushes near a popular viewpoint overlooking the Knysna Heads – and her ex-boyfriend Eugene Stander was arrested for her murder and later released on R5 000 bail.
According to Elsie Zeelie, her mother, the case was thrown out of court years ago because, “apparently there wasn’t enough evidence".
"Nine years later and after complaining and writing to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) the case has been reopened.
"If a case is thrown out one can never have closure and can never heal,” she said.
The grieving mother described how she had suffered several panic attacks because of the case.
“There are so many unanswered questions, I want the answers we deserve. At some stage I could even feel my veins swelling up in my head trying to understand what happened,” she said.
Jackie Stevens, a local attending the proceedings, said, “I am here to support Shantel’s mom as she has been through so much.
"She also lost her husband last year so she needs all the support she can get during this time.”
Stop press: At the time of going to press on Wednesday 21 February, on the third day of the trial, a colleague of the deceased was testifying and her mother was called to testify.
The prosecution and defence were questioning them about the day of her disappearance from work and rumours of a pregnancy.
More information to follow as it becomes available.
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