Hannah Cornelius, a 21-year-old student at Stellenbosch University, was murdered on May 26, 2017, after being carjacked and abducted with her friend, Cheslin Marsh.
The Incident
On the night of May 27 2017, Hannah offered her friend Cheslin Marsh a ride home after a night out.
While parked, outside his residence they were ambushed by four men.
Armed with weapons the attackers forced Cheslin into the backseat and restrained Hannah between the front seats, a brutal act captured on CCTV footage showing the gang surrounding their vehicle before the abduction
The assailants drove to a petrol station attempting to withdraw money using Cheslin’s bank card.
When their attempts failed due to an incorrect PIN, they drove to a remote area, where they assaulted Cheslin with bricks leaving him for dead.
Fortunately he survived but suffered severe injuries.
The Murder of Hannah Cornelius
After Cheslin was attacked Hannah was taken to a secluded location near Knorhoek farm road. Reports indicated that the attackers initially considered releasing her
However, when she began to resist they escalated their violence. Hannah was sexually assaulted and then brutally murdered.
The perpetrators used a large rock, weighing approximately 82 pounds to inflict fatal injuries by dropping it on her head multiple times.
After committing the murder, the gang continued their criminal activities by targeting another woman in Kraaifontein before being apprehended by police, after a chase when they were spotted driving Hannah’s car
The Perpetrators
The four men involved in this heinous crime were identified as Vernon Witbooi (33), Geraldo Parsons (27), Nashville Julius (29), and Eben Van Niekerk (28)
During their trial in 2018, three of them admitted to being present but denied involvement in the rape and murder.
Ultimately, they were convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 358 years in prison, with three receiving life sentences for their roles in this horrific act
Aftermath
The murder of Hannah Cornelius had a devastating impact on her family. Her mother, Anna Cornelius died in a swimming accident a year later, which some believe may have been influenced by her intense grief
Hannah’s father Willem, was heartbroken stating in court that he and his son were left “living in the ruins of what their family once was”
Tragically he was diagnosed with cancer just three months after Hannah’s death and passed away on December 9 2022, at the age of 64.
Willem is survived by his son Andries, who lives in a care center for autistic children.
Before his death Willem and Anna had established the Hannah Cornelius Foundation in honor of their daughter.
The foundation was created to support local children, helping them access education and break free from cycles of violence aiming to bring positive change to their community in Hannah’s memory.
