Mourning throng turns out for funeral of murdered Courtney
Hundreds of people crammed a hall in Cape Town on Saturday to say their last farewell to three-year-old Courtney Pieters.
A crowd gathered outside Adriaanse Hall in Clarke's Estate‚ Elsies River‚ where pink‚ white and yellow flowers were piled on the altar.
Courtney’s body arrived in a white casket after leaving the family home in Pluto Road.
#CourtneyPieters funeral is this morning. Here is her small casket. Her family is in attendance in front seat. @TimesLIVEpic.twitter.com/gVyQtRfPjg
— Anthony Molyneaux (@AJGMolyneaux) May 20, 2017
The three-year-old was found in a shallow grave next to unused railroad tracks in Epping a week ago. She had been missing for a week.
Mortimer Saunders‚ 40‚ who lived in the Pieters family home‚ appeared in Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday charged with murder‚ rape and kidnapping.
WATCH: Courtney's casket carried out after mourners are asked to pray for family of murder accused Courtney Pieters’ body was carried out of a Cape Town hall on Saturday after a funeral attended by hundreds of people.
Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato was at the funeral. He was also at a memorial service for Courtney held on Thursday‚ the same day President Jacob Zuma visited the Pieters family home.
Earlier on Saturday‚ hundreds of people joined a “Your child is my child” march for peace in memory of Courtney that began at Elsies River High School.
#CourtneyPieters A short piece on Courtney's casket arriving at her funeral service which has seen hundreds of people attend. @TimesLIVEpic.twitter.com/ceA4QoQ2hQ
— Anthony Molyneaux (@AJGMolyneaux) May 20, 2017
After the funeral service‚ Courtney was to be buried at Belhar Cemetery.
See more: Hundreds mourn at murdered 3-year-old Courtney Pieters' funeral