- The widower of murdered pastor Liezel de Jager is a danger to himself and others, her family claims in court papers.
- Liezel’s father has lodged an urgent court application in the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein.
- Court papers have revealed that they had a troubled marriage.
Court documents filed at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein have reportedly divulged details of a troubled marriage between murdered pastor Liezel de Jager and her husband, Werner de Jager.
According to a Netwerk24 report, Liezel's father, Henk van Zyl, called his son-in-law a liar and claimed he was a suspect in the murder investigation.
Van Zyl lodged the urgent application but the nature of it can't be disclosed to protect the identity of other parties involved. The court found in Werner's favour.
Liezel was a minister at the NG Suidkus Church in Amanzimtoti. She was found dead at home on 13 October and there were strangulation marks in her neck, The Witness previously reported.
In the court documents, Van Zyl, 60, reportedly said Werner was a risk to himself and others.
Werner went missing on 23 October and was found four days later in a sugarcane plantation. He had reportedly overdosed on medication.
Van Zyl was the one who reported him missing, according to YOU.
In the court papers, Van Zyl reportedly referenced a statement from the investigating officers in the murder case, which stated that Werner could be a suspect. It also stated that the investigation was ongoing.
He also reportedly disclosed details of the De Jagers' marriage, saying it was not as happy as they initially believed.
He said Werner lied to Liezel and that he attempted suicide in 2015.
Although she forgave him, their marriage never really recovered.
Werner has struggled to hold down a permanent job, Van Zyl reportedly said. He added that after the 2004 wedding, it appeared that Werner was content to "rely on [their] daughter for support".
Van Zyl also reportedly said Werner had been placed under debt review and that he and his wife financially supported the De Jagers in the past.
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