Julian Engelbrecht Pleads Guilty to Rape and Murder of Durbanville Woman

In a chilling turn of events, 29-year-old Julian Engelbrecht has admitted to raping and murdering 62-year-old Kathleen du Plooy, bringing a shocking Durbanville case back into the spotlight.

Engelbrecht, who had long insisted on his innocence, stunned the court this week by entering a guilty plea in the Western Cape High Court, where he faces charges of rape, murder, housebreaking, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

A violent crime that shook Durbanville

The crime dates back to April 2020, when Engelbrecht broke into Du Plooy’s home at the historic Altyd Gedacht farm in Durbanville. At the time, Du Plooy lived with her husband, Esau, who was severely ill after multiple strokes.

On 6 August 2020, Esau raised the alarm with neighbours after being unable to reach his wife. When they entered the home, Du Plooy was found lying face down in one of the bedrooms. Her pyjama pants had been pulled down to her ankles.

The post-mortem later revealed she died of blunt force trauma to the neck, with medical evidence confirming she had been sexually assaulted.

DNA evidence sealed his fate

Investigators collected DNA evidence from the crime scene and matched it to Engelbrecht through forensic testing.

At the time of his arrest, Engelbrecht was unemployed and had a prior brush with the law a 2017 drug possession charge, for which he was cautioned and discharged.

Court documents revealed that Engelbrecht had a close connection to the family. He grew up near the Du Plooys and was a childhood friend of their son, often spending time at their home.

Prosecutors argued that Engelbrecht knew the couple was vulnerable and deliberately targeted them.

A community in mourning

The case left the quiet suburb of Durbanville shaken. Friends and neighbours described Du Plooy as a kind-hearted and gentle woman, deeply involved with her family. Her murder brutal, invasive, and close to home sparked outrage over the safety of elderly residents in farm communities.

Community activists say the case highlights the ongoing vulnerability of elderly women in isolated areas, where security systems often fail to deter determined attackers.

Engelbrecht’s guilty plea marks a significant moment in a case that has dragged on for years. The High Court will now hear further testimony before delivering sentencing.

For Du Plooy’s family, however, the plea is a bittersweet development offering long-awaited accountability, but no return for the woman they lost in such a violent way.

{Source: IOL}

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