TELEPHONE conversations and SMS exchanges between the woman who allegedly hired the gunman who killed Gerrie Hoekstra, and her bookkeeper friend took centre stage in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday.
State advocate Jason Thysse told the court there had been seven telephonic conversations between Charne Brown, 36, and Karen van der Merwe, 43, on November 22 2010 – the morning Hoekstra was gunned down on his way to a bank in Walmer.
Yesterday, while cross-examining Brown, Thysse said: “Some calls lasted a few seconds. What were you discussing with Van der Merwe? I want to put it to you that you were actively involved with your co-accused.”
In reply, Brown said she had spoken to Van der Merwe on a daily basis and often discussed issues pertaining to their children and supper.
It was Brown’s last day on the witness stand and, at times, she refused to answer questions put to her by the state. At one point, she told Thysse he was “talking ultra rubbish”.
Brown, of Newton Park, is accused alongside Van der Merwe, of Kabega Park, and Sherwin Leander, 32, of Chatty, of trying to rob the Walmer Country Club manager, who was shot dead while transporting money to the bank.
Taking the witness stand yesterday, Van der Merwe, who worked with Hoekstra at the club, said she and Brown had used to phone each other regularly.
The trial continues today.
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