Gory details of the horrors University of Western Cape (UWC) Theology student Jesse Hess and her grandfather Chris Lategan, suffered on the day they were murdered were heard in court, on Tuesday.
Jesse Hess murder trial: How she and her grandpa were killed
The Western Cape High Court heard testimony from forensic pathologist Dr Grace Uren, who was at the crime scene, on 30 August 2019, the day Hess and Lategan’s bodies were discovered in their home in Parow, Cape Town.
According to Dr Uren, both Hess and her grandfather were strangled with belts. In the case of Lategan, a black belt was used to block his air passage. The immense pressure applied to his neck ruptured his veins, causing streams of blood to pour down his eyes, nose and ears.
Hess suffered a similar, but more horrific fate, the court heard. Not only was she strangled with a brown belt, but a sock and pillowcase were stuffed in her mouth and covered with a tape that ran along her face, covering her eyes and nose.
Dr Uren recalled seeing Hess only dressed in a pink long sleeve shirt. Her bottom half was naked, leaving investigators to believe she may have been raped, albeit there is no forensic evidence to support this.
The pathologist, however, suggested the use of a condom, or penetration after she was murdered, could be attributed to the absence of trauma in the victim’s vaginal walls.
What happened the day Hess was murdered?
The suspects, David van Boven and Tasliem Ambrose, are charged with the brutal double homicide, aggravated robbery, fraud and sexual assault.
Boven is the second cousin of Hess and, according to Ambrose, who has since turned state, it was the idea of his co-accused to rob his relatives at the Beaumont Court apartment that day.
Ambrose has entered into a plea agreement with the state. He will rat out his friend for a reduced sentence where he partially accepts responsibility for Hess and Letagen’s murders.
According to Ambrose, Boven lured him to the apartment under the guise that they were going to collect money. However, he claims things quickly turned for the worst when Boven attacked the 85-year-old grandfather.
Both suspects vehemently deny allegations of rape, the only charge that they can escape, due to a lack of forensic evidence.
Boven and Ambrose allegedly murdered Hess and her grandfather and stole cellphones, two TVs, rings and a laptop. It’s believed the suspects used the stolen goods as a bargaining chip to borrow cash from a close friend.
The suspects are also accused of withdrawing R1 000 from Hess’ bank account after she was murdered.
