Mystery of the suitcase murder

09 December 2010 - 11:57
By Sapa

Willem Pretorius, 37, claimed Xoliswa Ndlakuse, 58, was his wife and that she had gone missing. His family denied the marriage - and her body was found in a suitcase that had been chucked into a dam

A man has appeared briefly in the Nigel Magistrate's Court after  the body of a woman he claimed was his wife was found stuffed into a suitcase floating in a river, Beeld reports.

Willem Pretorius, 37, would remain in custody until his next appearance on December 15.

He was arrested on Monday after he went to a police station and reported Xoliswa Ndlakuse, 58, missing, claiming she was his wife.

Her family has denied this.

A passer-by found the suitcase floating  in the Blesbok River last Sunday afternoon. The person called the police, who opened it and found her corpse.