Convicted child rapist and murderer Mortimer Saunders has written a letter of apology to his little victim, her parents and “everybody” for what he has done.The neatly written one-page briefie, written in capital letters, is headed “Apology to family” and in it Saunders speaks about the pain he caused the family of Courtney Pieters.
However, the family has rejected the apology, saying they have not heard of it until the Daily Voice contacted them yesterday.
Saunders was convicted of the rape and murder of 3-year-old Courtney who went missing from her family home in Elsies River in May 2017.
Her tiny body was disco- vered dumped in Epping Industria nine days after she disappeared.
Last week sentencing proceedings started but Saunders opted not to testify on his own behalf.
Instead, he wrote the letter, in which he says: “I deeply regret what I’ve done and I’m truly ashamed for my actions on that day.
“I would like to apologise to Aaron and Juanita for what I have done. And if they can find it in their hearts to forgive me some day.
“Last of all, I want to apologise to Courtney for what I have done. I hope you can forgive me cause I can’t. I don’t have an explanation for what I’ve done. Why did I do it? But please, forgive me.”
On Sunday, Courtney’s father, Aaron Fourie, became angry when he heard about the letter.
He and Saunders had been friends since childhood and Saunders had been boarding with the family when he killed Courtney.
“He thought nothing of me as his friend and nothing of my last born. He took my child and thinks a letter to the public, mentioning my family and my child that he murdered and raped is enough?
“I am very sorry but I do not accept this apology,” the angry father said.
He said Saunders was aware that he and Juanita could not have more children.
Juanita had complications with Courtney and was sterilised.
“Daai was ons laaste kind, en hy het haar sonder om te dink, gevat. Nee, ek is nog diep seer en aanvaar niks koerant-apologies nie,” Aaron said.
Juanita said although she said in court that she had forgiven Saunders, the letter has angered her and she retracts her forgiveness.
MURDERED: Courtney Pieters
“God says we must forgive without question, but deep in my heart, I cannot,” she said yesterday. “If I had a gun or something in court, I would kill him.
“He took Courtney from me without a care and his apology in a newspaper is nothing.
“He must speak in court. He must stand and look at me and tell me and Aaron why he did it.”
The court found that Saunders fed Courtney ant poison in retaliation over a dispute he had had with Juanita.
It also heard that Saunders, a father of three young children, was paranoid that he would be poisoned by his mother, aunt and a former girlfriend.
Mortimer's Letter
“Apology To Family"
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to everybody who has been affected by my actions. I deeply regret what I’ve done and I’m truly ashamed for my actions on that day. I will have to live with the fact that I am responsible for a child’s death.
"Courtney did not deserve this nor did her parents. I would like to apologise to Aaron and Juanita for what I have done. And if they can find it in their hearts to forgive me some day. I also want to apologise to Magdalene Pietersen and Marsha Wenn, for all the hurt I’ve caused.
"To A.D. and Annie (brother and sister) and to everybody who has been affected.
Also to the community of Salberau. This was a heinous crime and I take full responsibility for what I’ve done. This letter is for everybody I’ve hurt through my actions, especially my friend Aaron.
"Last of all, I want to apologise to Courtney for what I have done. I hope you can forgive me cause I can’t. I don’t have an explanation for what I’ve done. Why did I do it? But please, forgive me."