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20 January 2004
AMSTERDAM — A 46-year-old man has confessed to the murder of Dutch tourist Marleen Konings, 24, who disappeared last month while working as a trainee in South Africa.
Konings’ body was found in a ravine about 180km from Cape Town on Friday 16 January and police have confirmed she died from a gunshot wound. The murder weapon has also been recovered.
The Dutch national went missing on 29 December and her body was in an advanced state of decay when it was discovered. Dental records were used to identity her body.
An autopsy has revealed the cause of death and police have allegedly found forensics evidence linking the gun to the suspect and the scene of the crime, news agency ANP reported on Tuesday.
The 46-year-old suspect has been charged with murder and will appear in the Swellendam Court on Wednesday. The woman’s body will be flown home to the Netherlands in the next few days.
The suspect has been identified as Rob Cowley, a white South African who speaks Afrikaans, an NOS news report said. He was allegedly seen with the student last month when she gave him a ride in her rental car.
The Saxion Hogeschool — where Konings, of Winterswijk, was a second-year multi-media student — has opened a condolence register at its Enschede, Deventer and Apeldoorn locations.
A special ceremony was held for Konings’ study groups in Enschede on Monday and a remembrance ceremony will soon be organised in co-operation with the victim’s parents.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
Subject: Dutch news