Knysna Murder Case: Bail Hearing Reveals Suspect’s Chilling Phone Searches

A Knysna man has been remanded in custody following his arrest for the murder of his girlfriend, who was reported missing in December.

Police allege that Velia Strydom’s body was dumped near the iconic Red Bridge in Knysna several days after she disappeared.

Her partner, Mervyn Bock, appeared in the local magistrate’s court this week, where he applied for bail as investigators detailed the evidence against him.

Last Movements and CCTV Evidence in Knysna Murder Investigation

Strydom’s family and friends launched a search for her in early December after she failed to return home.

According to family spokesperson Warrick Langisa, Strydom’s last known plan was to meet Bock at his flat before heading out for the evening. The couple was later seen leaving a nightclub together.

“What we heard in court is since he went into the flat with Velia on that Saturday evening, there was no movement and no CCTV footage showing that Velia ever left that flat,” Langisa said.

During the bail hearing on Wednesday, video footage presented to the court allegedly showed Bock loading the victim’s body into a vehicle two days later.

Disturbing Search History and Additional Charges Considered

Langisa told the court that investigators also uncovered a disturbing cellphone search history linked to the accused.

“He searched like how long after strangulation took place will the body, will the heart still beat? Yeah. How long will fingerprints remain on the body? What will happen if a body is drowned after strangulation?”

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Prosecutors further indicated that Bock could face an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice. This follows allegations that he jumped from his third-floor apartment and dumped his cellphone in a neighbour’s backyard while attempting to evade arrest.

The case continues in the Knysna magistrate’s court.