Kareedouw Guesthouse Owner Faces Double Murder Trial

In a twist of events, 49-year-old Kevin Pretorius, the owner of the Kliphuis Guesthouse in Kareedouw, stood in a Gqeberha court on Monday, facing double murder charges. Pretorius was arrested following the death of a young couple at his guesthouse last year, deaths attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Jéan Vosloo, 25, and his 28-year-old fiance Mari Hoon were tragically found lifeless in the guesthouse bathroom in an incident that raised many questions. The guesthouse sits on the Zuuranys farm, approximately 17 kilometers from the heart of Kareedouw.

Initially, an inquest docket was opened, but the case took a dramatic twist when the toxicology report demonstrated the presence of excessive carbon monoxide in the couple's systems. This led to Pretorius’s arrest.

In an interesting development, a former Conservationist, Matthys de Wet, spoke in Pretorius' defense. De Wet, who specializes in dangerous species and baboon behavior, backed the accused's claim that baboons, known for their inquisitive and destructive behavior, caused the malfunction by breaking the geyser’s flue pipe.

Although supporting the possibilities rooted in baboon behavior, de Wet's credibility was questioned during cross-examination by state prosecutor Johan Jansen. The expert conceded that he lacked formal qualification in the particular subject matter and had not visited the location of the incident in person. Moreover, he admitted that he wasn't aware of any cases where baboons had caused similar damage.

The controversy surrounding the case continues as the court postponed the case to November 24th. Pretorius's bail, set at R1 000, has been extended.