Denise Hattingh’s legal team is seeking a reduction in charges, urging the State not to pursue premeditated murder in the case against her. At a hearing on November 26, her lawyer informed the Kempton Park Regional Court that Hattingh intends to plead guilty to the killing of 29-year-old Markus Greeff. The case, which has already been delayed several times, is now set to resume on December 10. The defence has yet to provide full legal representation for Hattingh, but their request to mitigate the charges marks a shift in the legal proceedings.
The incident at the center of the case occurred on May 15 at a property on West Street in Pomona. According to police reports, when officers arrived at the scene, they found Greeff’s lifeless body. Early investigations suggested that Greeff had been strangled with a cable, a grim detail shared by Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Dipuo Ditshego.
The investigation was swiftly handled, with police securing the crime scene and conducting initial inquiries. On the same day, security personnel from Sec Pros, who were patrolling the Brentwood Park area, spotted a woman matching Hattingh’s description. They promptly apprehended her, and Detective Captain Richard Moloi, who had been involved at the crime scene, went to the location to assist with her arrest. Hattingh was subsequently transported to the Kempton Park Police Station, where she was formally charged with murder.
While the case remains in its early stages, the request for a lesser charge indicates that Hattingh is prepared to accept responsibility for Greeff’s death. The court’s next steps will be pivotal in determining the direction of the proceedings as Hattingh prepares to face justice for the tragic event.
