But Judge Kate Savage said that there was “no explanation for this dastardly deed” and pondered whether he was a danger to society. State advocate Lenro Badenhorst pointed out that Oliver had worn a Muslim garment a few days ago in court. Now he appeared to be “falling back on the Christian religion”. Oliver’s letter said: “Please forgive me so I can start forgiving myself. By forgiving me you will set my soul free even though my body is locked up.”
Oliver qualified his request for parole saying‚ “I have two daughters that I want to rejoin”.
In another letter read out in the High Court in Cape Town‚ two months after Franziska’s murder‚ he pleaded for forgiveness. But he went on to plead not guilty to murder and rape.