St Stithians tragedy: What police allegedly failed to secure

Fresh allegations about evidence in the murder of St Stithians learner Cameron Waldeck-Cooks have raised serious questions about how police handled the investigation.

The 17-year-old Grade 11 learner was found dead alongside former St Stithians pupil Ethan Coetzee, 19, at a holiday home in Sabie, Mpumalanga, on 3 August.

According to a report on Saturday, 17 October, Cameron’s family has questioned why police allegedly failed to secure crucial evidence that could shed light on her death.

DISTURBING CELLPHONE EVIDENCE EMERGES

The report details concerns about disturbing material allegedly found on Cameron’s cellphone, which her family believes could point to gender-based violence.

It also raises questions about whether investigators properly preserved potential evidence.

The full contents of the cellphone material and the circumstances surrounding the alleged investigative failures have, however, not been independently verified.

ALLEGATIONS OF CONTROLLING BEHAVIOUR

Earlier reports alleged that Coetzee had monitored Cameron’s cellphone and social media accounts during their relationship.

A separate report previously cited a source who claimed Coetzee had access to her passwords and displayed controlling and jealous behaviour.

Coetzee’s family disputed allegations against him.

WHAT THE POST-MORTEM REVEALED

Police initially opened an inquest following the discovery of the teenagers’ bodies.

However, preliminary post-mortem findings indicated that Cameron had been strangled, prompting a murder investigation.

Her parents, Derrick Cooks and Claire Waldeck-Cooks, also appointed an independent forensic pathologist, whose preliminary findings indicated strangulation and suffocation.

Coetzee’s death remains the subject of an inquest, with preliminary findings suggesting he may have died by suicide.