One Murder, Two Court Cases: Chaos at Cape Town Court Over Retired Teacher’s Death

Five accused, two parallel trials

The brutal murder of retired teacher Alison Dewar outside Philadelphia on 27 October 2024 has revealed shocking disarray in Cape Town’s court system. Dewar, a volunteer maths tutor at Rainbow of Hope, was stabbed to death, but confusion surrounds her case: five people face charges, yet they are being tried in two separate court cases, handled by different prosecutors and police units.

No coordination, mounting frustration

Investigations and prosecutions seem to operate in isolation. Prosecutors in each case weren’t aware of the parallel trial, and attempts to merge the two cases, which the state requested in November 2024—have yet to materialize, nine months later. Delays in assigning investigating officers, obtaining postmortem reports, and producing dockets have compounded the chaos.

Shayner-Lee Wiese, a teacher who worked with Dewar, expressed disbelief at the state’s handling:

“This case is being handled as if it’s not serious. Alison was committed to helping children. Does her death mean nothing?”

How the crime unfolded

Four days after Dewar’s murder, police recovered her red 2024 Hyundai Creta at the home of second-hand car salesman Obina Ugwuoke. Arrests followed: Chukwudi Stanley, Isaac Okeowo, and a couple from Bellville, Marlon and Riani Macalagh, who allegedly murdered Dewar and sold her car for R3 000 cash plus R2 000 in drugs to a man called CJ, still at large. CJ reportedly sold the car to Ugwuoke for R20,000, with Stanley acting as middleman.

Court proceedings mired in confusion

The suspects first appeared in the Atlantis Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2024, but the murder case was later transferred to Cape Town Magistrates’ Court due to jurisdiction. Ugwuoke faced a separate theft charge. Multiple court appearances revealed a lack of assigned investigating officers and missing dockets. Bail hearings were inconsistent: Stanley and Okeowo were granted R5 000 bail, while the Macalaghs chose not to apply.

Court sessions have been repeatedly postponed due to missing evidence, pending postmortem reports, and a psychiatric assessment for Marlon Macalagh at Valkenburg Psychiatric Hospital, delaying trial readiness.

Social and public outrage

Social media and local commentators have criticized the delays. Many question whether the bureaucratic mishaps undermine justice for Dewar, highlighting systemic issues in SAPS and NPA coordination.

Both cases now await trial dates, but with procedural gaps and continued miscommunication between prosecutors, justice for Alison Dewar hangs in the balance. Observers stress the need for better integration between police units and prosecutors, and for the court system to prioritize the swift resolution of violent crimes.