Self-confessed child murderer Mortimer Saunders is a danger to society and is facing two possible life terms in jail for killing and raping three-year-old Courtney Pieters in May last year.
The Western Cape High Court also heard Saunders had a “thing” about poison.
“He accused his parents, his own aunt, his youngest child’s mother and the deceased’s mother of trying to poison him. He is paranoid about it,” State witness Jeremy Kessie of the Social Development Department said during sentencing proceedings yesterday.
Asked by State prosecutor Esmeralda Cecil whether he was aware that the minimum sentence for the murder and rape of children under the age of 16 was two separate life terms, the probation officer said: “Yes, I am aware.”
Saunders was found guilty of the rape and premeditated murder of Courtney in November.
He admitted to poisoning the child but denied raping her while she was alive.
He was arrested shortly after the little girl’s decomposing body was found in Epping Industria in May 2017, nine days after she was reported missing.
In his report, Kessie said Saunders is a danger to society.
“Yes, the accused constitutes a high risk to the public, more to the weak and vulnerable; specifically to the children. The risk of harm to the public is high,” he said.
Courtney Pieters
According to Kessie, Saunders had not taken full responsibility for his actions, adding that there appears to be an element of premeditation in the murder of Courtney.
Saunders had previously claimed that he did not want to kill Courtney, but only wanted to make her sick with ant poison.
Witnesses living at the house in Salberau said they did not have an ant problem.
“He took the time to mix it. When you administer poison to any child, it could cause death. Then when the victim became ill, he muffled her cries for help and choked her,” Kessie said.
Under cross-examination by Legal Aid defence attorney, Morné Calitz, Kessie admitted that Saunders spoke openly and “did his best to answer all my questions”.
Saunders has three children, two daughters aged 7 and 14, and an 8-year-old son.
Juanita Pieters
“I am not sure if he provides maintenance,” Kessie told the court.
Calitz also insisted his client was sorry and handed in a letter written by Saunders begging for forgiveness. “The accused is taking responsibility for his actions as a person who could still be rehabilitated.”
He said the defence agreed to a lengthy jail sentence, but not to life imprisonment.
But State prosecutor Esmeralda Cecil said the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors in the case.
The matter was adjourned until 11 December for sentencing.
Outside court, Courtney’s father, Aaron Fourie, said he wants justice for his child and wants to know why his “lifelong friend” killed his daughter. “We were friends since school. I feel like I want to beat him up every time I see him. I want to know, why my Courtney?” the distraught father said.
Mom Juanita added: “My family can’t move forward. We cannot heal until he gets what he deserves.”