Duncan Hoorn has been found guilty of murdering his wife, Chantel Pasqualle-Hoorn, after Acting Judge Amanda van Leeve, delivering judgment in the Western Cape High Court yesterday while sitting at the Wynberg Regional Court, rejected his account of how Chantel suffered her fatal injuries.
Hoorn persisted that Chantel was conscious and able to walk to the vehicle that took her to hospital the following morning. However, medical experts testified that she arrived at hospital unconscious, unable to breathe without assistance and suffering from a traumatic brain injury.
The court also heard evidence about Hoorn’s jealousy during the relationship in which a tracking device was placed on Chantel’s vehicle and threatening voice notes sent on 27 June 2024. Chantel’s sister testified that she could hear Chantel pleading with Hoorn to stop because he was hurting her. She later went to the couple’s home with police officers after Chantel called for help.
Judge van Leeve also criticised shortcomings in the police response. The court found that key parts of Hoorn’s version were inconsistent with the objective medical evidence presented during the trial.
Hoorn was found guilty of murder but acquitted of kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. He could face a sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment.
