Kirsten Kluyts' alleged killer to return to court in July

The 22-year-old student was arrested in November last year, a month after the 32-year-old teacher's lifeless body was discovered at the George Leah Park in Sandton.

He faces charges of premeditated murder, rape, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Kluyts, who was pregnant when she was killed, was participating in an organised park run when she failed to return at the set cut-off time.

Her naked body was later discovered lying at the bottom of an embankment at the park.  

During his bail application, the accused took to the stand and admitted to disrobing Kluyts and then leaving with her clothes before attempting to discard some items.

This was also contained in the state's photographic evidence, taken from CCTV footage around the park, which depicts the young man wearing the deceased's blue t-shirt.

The accused cannot be named until he has pleaded due the rape charge.

He insisted that Kluyts was already dead when he found her, and after turning her over and trying to feel for a pulse, he decided to take her clothes to avoid being linked to her death through his DNA.

A postmortem report revealed that there were no physical signs of rape. However, the state argued that this did not mean the crime did not occur.

The case was postponed to 11 July for DNA results. 

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