Mr.Rebates

Mr. Rebates

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Woman accused in rugby star's murder plot to undergo psychiatric test

Nov 23, 2010

Pretoria, South Africa A South African court has ordered a 47-year-old woman to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after she was arrested for allegedly plotting to kill promising rugby player, Deon Helberg.

Amanda Reyneke is believed to have had an affair with the 21-year-old Blue Bulls wing while he was dating her daughter, police said.

Jalien Reyneke is a university student and model who apparently broke up with Helberg after finding out that he was in a relationship with her mother, according to police.

Helberg is not talking publicly, but his alleged relationship with the Reynekes has South Africans gripped. The love triangle that could have possibly ended in death has been making headlines since Amanda Reyneke's dramatic and public arrest last Thursday.

Investigators say she promised to pay two Nigerian men $17,000 to kill Helberg, but her plot was foiled when the men notified police.

With the help of the rugby player, a crime scene designed to make it appear that he was dead was constructed by police and pictures were sent to Amanda Reyneke by the would-be assassins. When she agreed to meet them to give them their pay for the murder, police pounced, taking all three into custody.
The Nigerians are now state witnesses and will testify against Amanda Reyneke, police said. During her first court appearance Monday, text messages allegedly sent by her to the two hired hitmen were read out in Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

One of them, apparently urging the two men to carry out the killing, read: "I'm sorry to tell you that this job still needs to be done."

Police said prosecutors plan to use the messages to prove she wanted Helberg dead. Some of the texts allegedly revealed that she may have dabbled in witchcraft, and one indicated she had been in contact with witch doctors.

The judge in the case ordered Amanda Reyneke to check herself into a psychiatric facility for a mental evaluation, but allowed her to go free on bail.

Outside the courthouse, her lawyer spoke to the media but did not divulge many details about the case.
"We will give you the real story when we go to court," said attorney Jaques Beetge.

To add to the intrigue, Amanda Reyneke -- after dodging a gaggle of reporters as she walked out of the courthouse Monday -- ducked into a car driven by her daughter. She kissed her daughter on the cheek and the two drove away.

Amanda Reyneke is due in court again in January.

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