They may be on trial for the rape and murder of her one-year-old son, but that did not stop Abigail Ruiters and Ameerudeen Peters from planning a life together.
The two apparently got married while Peters is awaiting trial behind bars, and Abigail, 30, is said to have accepted his Islamic faith and changed her name to Amaarah.
Abigail is currently out on R2 000 bail, and pictures of her and the couple’s one-year-old daughter have been posted on Peters’ Facebook page.
Peters is being held at Pollsmoor Prison, where he had access to a smartphone as he religiously updated his Facebook page.
But his vlerkies have been snipped by the Department of Correctional Services, who yesterday raided his cell and confiscated the device.
The Facebook profile of Ameerudeen Peters (Ameer), lists Peters as married and there are dozens of pictures of Abigail and their little girl.
The child was born while Abigail was being held in jail during her bail hearing in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court.
Peters refers to Ruiters as his “wife”, posting: “Love my wife Amaarah an my bbe (child’s name) 4 eva.[sic]”
However, when the Daily Voice contacted Ruiters’ father, Pastor Ronald Ruiters, to ask whether the Facebook claims are true, he shouted: “No, they are not married! I have nothing to say. We do not care about Ameerudeen.
“We do not talk to him or visit him and I don’t care what he posts. We want nothing to do with him.”
Jeremiah Ruiters
DCS spokesperson Simphiwe Xako says Peters’ cell was raided after a tip-off on Thursday morning.
“The Department of Correctional Services has confiscated a cellphone from the cell where the offender is incarcerated,” he says.
“The department has initiated an investigation into the matter, with a specific brief of establishing how the cellphone was taken into the centre.
“We will also trace the IMEI number of the cellphone in order to determine whether any crime was committed through its use.
“If found to be the cause of committing a crime, the Department of Correctional Services will formally lay a criminal case with SAPS.”
Xako says he can’t confirm the marriage, but says this will also be investigated.
Peters and Abigail will be going on trial in March next year for the rape and murder of her son Jeremiah Ruiters in June last year.
The toddler was raped, beaten and stabbed at their Salmander Square home in Windermere.
OFFLINE: Ameerudeen Peters’ cell was raided and phone confiscated
Peters had taken the boy to the local clinic where the tot was declared dead on arrival.
Abigail is being charged with murder and child neglect under the Children’s Act while Peters faces charges of murder and rape.
They face charges of abuse involving Ruiters’ other kids, both under 10 years old.