Alleged killer in court, 16 after murder
A Cape Town mother may finally get justice for her daughter after more than 16 years, after one of her alleged killers was arrested just over a week ago.
Fourteen-year-old Valencia Farmer was brutally gang raped and murdered in 1999 in a case that shocked the country.
At the time, the Eerste River community tore down the derelict house where the attack happened; such was the rage expressed at the schoolgirl’s horror ordeal.
Farmer had managed to crawl to the road after the attack and neighbours called her mother, who was with her when she was rushed to hospital.
The teen had been stabbed 53 times and died in hospital two days later, but not before telling police who her assailants were.
It is believed she was gang raped and murdered by at least six men, but only three were convicted of the crime.
In 2001, Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai imposed double life sentences on 20-year-old Glenville “Bekkies” Faro and 19-year-old Franklin “Franky” Roberts.
A third accused, who was 16 years old at the time, was sentenced to 23 years behind bars.
Desai said, after a highly publicised trial, that the men had “unleashed an orgy of violence and sexual brutality on a defenceless young girl”.
Now, a fourth suspect may finally be brought to book.
Elmario Maasdorp, who was 19 years old at the time of the murder, was arrested last Saturday and will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
At the time of the killing, charges against the alleged 28s gang member were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
But new evidence has apparently emerged, and Maasdorp, who is now in his mid 30s, will again face charges of rape and murder.
This time, police believe they have enough evidence to secure a conviction.