Woman, 80, asked nurse to help her before she was stabbed to death

Cape Town - Marie Verwey, 80, apparently asked her home-care nurse to help her just before she was stabbed to death.

Verwey was found murdered in the Villa Merwe guest house in Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch, on Thursday.  

Nicole Geldenhuys, 32, who was Verwey’s home-care nurse and her boyfriend, Romeo Hendricks, 40, appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder, housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery, Netwerk24 reported.

They were arrested at their home in Lovers Lane, an informal settlement in Paarl, on Saturday at about 04:00.

Prosecutor Licardo Davids said they would oppose bail.  Geldenhuys had confessed to police that they had planned the robbery, Davids told the court.

When he heard this, Hendricks looked at Geldenhuys and told the court he knew nothing about the murder.

Netwerk24 reliably learnt on Monday that Verwey had been stabbed 50 times in the face, neck, and chest. Geldenhuys had apparently said in her statement that they were not supposed to have killed Verwey. Jewellery and a cellphone were reportedly stolen and sold.

The case was postponed to February 27 for a formal bail application.