Trio found guilty of killing Douglas woman for R80k insurance payout

ACCUSED Justin Tier, Naledi Leburu and Mpho Leburu will remain in custody after being found guilty of murdering a woman in order to claim death benefits totalling R80,000.

The victim, Ristelle Steenkamp, was the cousin of the Leburu sisters, while Tier was in a relationship with Naledi at the time of the offence.

Her body was discovered in a water canal in Douglas on August 11, 2020. Two life insurance policies were later paid out following her murder.

Tier admitted that on August 9 he had made Steenkamp drunk on wine and that they had also smoked dagga and tik. He confessed that he strangled her and disposed of her body in the canal.

Delivering judgment recently, Northern Cape High Court Judge Cecile Williams noted that Naledi had nominated Mpho as a beneficiary on a Metropolitan Life Insurance policy worth R50,000.

“The accused chose the maximum cover option,” she said, adding that the accused had struggled to keep up with the policy payments.

“After the first debit order was deducted on July 1, 2020, Mpho enquired if the policy would pay out in the event of an accidental death. The policy of R49,612 was paid out to Naledi on September 15, after the claim was received on August 15.”

Judge Williams pointed out that Naledi had only paid one month’s premium, while Mpho had honoured two months’ payments before the murder was carried out.

“The deceased was 28 years old and, apart from suffering from epilepsy, she was otherwise healthy. The siblings were bona fide beneficiaries of the life insurance policies, which had been opened solely to enrich themselves,” Judge Williams said.

She explained that the outstanding premium was deducted from the claim.

“Mpho took out a R30,000 policy in the name of the deceased, with a monthly premium of R40.”

This policy paid out R29,000 after her death, with the remaining R1,000 paid in the form of Shoprite vouchers.”

Tier checked pulse before dumping 'body'

“Upon the instructions of Mpho, Tier strangled the deceased but did not cut her throat, as she was ill. He felt her pulse to check if she was still breathing and agreed to dispose of the body in the canal. He admitted that he received R10,000 after the murder.”

Judge Williams noted that Tier had appeared remorseful, saying he was haunted by Steenkamp in his dreams and had even attempted suicide.

“The post-mortem report indicated that the deceased sustained blunt force trauma to the back of the head. The cause of death was consistent with drowning. There was no sign of manual strangulation. There was a high level of alcohol in her system.”

She added that a blue pill that had been dissolved in the wine may have dissipated after Steenkamp swallowed water.

“She was not tested for ingesting any substances.”

She stated that after the deceased was placed in a dustbin, Denzil Mosito, who helped carry the “body”, initially refused to assist as he was repulsed by the smell of faeces and became nauseous. 

Judge Williams said clothing was placed on top of Steenkamp in the dustbin.

“Tier was sent to look for Steenkamp when she never returned home, and was also sent to identify her body.”

She found Tier guilty of premeditated murder and of attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice. Naledi and Mpho were each convicted of murder, attempting to defeat or obstruct justice, and fraud.

Senior State prosecutor Adele van Heerden told the court that Tier had previous convictions for domestic violence in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and had been declared unfit to possess a firearm. Naledi had a previous conviction for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in 2020, while Mpho had no prior convictions.

The matter was postponed until October 30 for pre-sentencing procedures.