Murder of Hannah Cornelius
 Location where Hannah's Cornelius body was found | |
| Date | May 27–28, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | 6 - 7:30 AM[1] (SAST) |
| Location | Stellenbosch, South Africa |
| Type | Murder |
| Target | Hannah Cornelius, Cheslin Marsh |
| Perpetrator | Nashville Julius, Geraldo Parsons, Eben Van Niekerk, Vernon Witbooi |
| Deaths | 1 (Hannah Cornelius) |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 (Cheslin Marsh) |
| Charges | Murder, kidnapping, rape, robbery |
| Trial | Cape Town high court |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Sentence | Combined 358 years (three out of four facing life sentences) |
Hannah Cornelius was a 21-year-old South African Stellenbosch University student. Hannah, along with her friend Cheslin Marsh, were abducted by a gang in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in May 2017, which led to Cornelius being brutally raped and murdered.[2]
Background[edit]
On May 27, 2017, Hannah Cornelius offered Cheslin Marsh a lift home after a night out. While the pair were parked outside Marsh's residence, they were ambushed by four men. CCTV footage captured the moment the gang encircled their vehicle. Armed with weapons, they forced Cheslin into the backseat and then the trunk, while Hannah was restrained between the two front seats.[3][4]
The attackers drove the car to a petrol station, attempting to withdraw money using Cheslin's card. When they were given an incorrect PIN, the gang drove to a remote area. There, Cheslin was brutally attacked with bricks and left, believing he was dead. He would later survive, albeit with significant injuries.[3]
Hannah was then taken to a Knorhoek farm road next to a vineyard and a stream by the gang. Reports from the trial indicated that the men had initially planned to release her until she began to resist. She was then sexually assaulted, stabbed in the neck, and fatally injured by a large, 82-pound rock, which had been used to cover a borehole, was lifted and dropped on Cornelius' head twice.[3][5][6][7]
Following this incident, the gang pursued further crimes, targeting a woman in Kraaifontein before eventually being apprehended after a police chase upon being spotted in Hannah's car.
The attackers were identified as Vernon Witbooi, 33, Geraldo Parsons, 27, Nashville Julius, 29, and Eben Van Nieberk, 28. Although three of them admitted to being present during the crime, they denied their involvement in the rape and murder.[3][5]
Aftermath[edit]
The four perpetrators were tried and sentenced in 2018, with a combined prison term of 358 years. Three of the four received life sentences.[2]
The tragedy had profound effects on Hannah's family. Anna Cornelius, Hannah's mother, died in a swimming accident a year after her daughter's death. While her death was ruled as an accident, Hannah's father, Willem Cornelius, remarked that Anna might not have had the physical or mental strength to cope with the loss of their daughter.[8][2][6][9]
To commemorate Hannah and channel their grief, Willem and Anna established the Hannah Cornelius Foundation, aiming to help local children access education and escape community violence.[2]
Willem Cornelius was diagnosed with cancer roughly three months after his daughter's death. He succumbed to the illness on December 9, 2022.[10]
The events leading up to Hannah's death were covered in a documentary released five years after the incident, shedding light on the tragedy.[2][11]
References[edit]
- ^ "Hannah Cornelius' 11-hour 'hell ride' that led to student's gang rape and murder - World News - Mirror Online". www.mirror.co.uk. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ a b c d e Bone, Hollie; Wood, Hannah Mackenzie (2022-04-03). "Student raped, knifed and beaten to death by gang in horror 11-hour ordeal". Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ a b c d "Massive 2ft rock used to smash skull of student, 21, after gang rape is heaved into shocked courtroom - World News - Mirror Online". www.mirror.co.uk. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Evans, Jenni. "'There's a person lying there' - tragic discovery of Hannah Cornelius". News24. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ a b "Four men found guilty of horrific rape and murder of South African student". www.9news.com.au. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ a b "Murdered student Hannah Cornelius, 21, 'told gang who raped her they could have sex if they let her go after' - World News - Mirror Online". www.mirror.co.uk. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Evans, Jenni. "Positive DNA match for two accused of Hannah Cornelius murder". News24. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Drowning of mother of slain Maties student Hannah Cornelius accidental". TimesLIVE. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Mum of student Hannah Cornelius who was raped and murdered was found dead waiting for trial to begin - Mirror Online". www.mirror.co.uk. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Thamm, Marianne. "Father of murdered student Hannah Cornelius dies — a gentle giant who stood among the ruins of his family". msn.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Molyneaux, Anthony (29 March 2022). "New documentary on murder of Hannah Cornelius revisits brutal crime". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-08-14.