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German couple found guilty over a decade after killing Claus Schroeder

Supplied


Two German nationals have been found guilty in the Port Elizabeth High Court of the murder of Eastern Cape farm owner, Claus Schroeder, as well as fraud.

The couple was arrested a decade ago for the murder of Schroeder, whose body was never found.

The National Prosecuting Authority says 42-year old Jens Leunberg and 44-year old Kristina Adler first visited South Africa in May 2007 for a holiday and returned home the following year with fraudulent Visa's.

In 2007, the couple expressed interest in purchasing the victim's farm in the Hankey district and a memorandum of agreement was drawn up to sell the property for an amount of R8.5 million.

Regional spokesperson, Anelisa Ngcakani says Adler and Leunberg offered Schreuder Bank documents as a guarantee, which was also fake as they never applied for any lone from the bank.

She says when Claus Schroeder did not receive his money after a year, he became concerned and wanted answers.

Leunberg lured Schroeder to a kloof where he killed him.
Schroeder's body was never found, however, witnesses stated that they saw Leunberg emerge from the bushes with blood on his clothes.

Judge Thembekile Malusi said he was satisfied that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Leunberg guilty of murder and two counts of fraud.

He further found Adler guilty of being an accessory to murder and two counts of fraud.

The case was postponed to 7 April for sentencing procedures.