‘The pain has never left us’: Craemer family speaks at killer’s sentencing

Eleven years after Jan Johannes Craemer was killed by his secret lover, the Craemer family continues to suffer from severe anxiety, fear, and psychological trauma as the Durban High Court determines the sentence for convicted killer Petrus Hendrik van Rooyen. Johanna Jacoba Craemer, the widow, told the court that her children, aged four and ten at the time of the murder on November 30, 2015, are still dealing with deep psychological scars.

Both children struggle with anger, anxiety, paranoia, and guilt, with one daughter even cutting herself after reading about her father's death online. The trauma has affected the family so much that Johanna herself has experienced depression and anxiety, prompting them to move back to Secunda in Mpumalanga after living in Durban at the time of the murder.

Van Rooyen, her secret lover, is aware of where the family resides, causing constant fear for her children's safety. Johanna's daughter, a minor at the time, still yearns for her father to be present for the significant milestones in her life, such as her first day at school, school concerts, and sports days. Cornelia Magdalena Barnard, the sister of Jan, expressed that the pain remains as raw as it was on the day he died, likening it to a nightmare.

She emphasized that Van Rooyen should be held accountable for the suffering he inflicted on the family, as Van Rooyen has missed out on key life events with his brother - birthdays, Christmas, and celebrations. Cornelia described Jan as a kind man who loved funny movies and never spoke badly about others, and expressed that Van Rooyen has no right to take Jan's life. Sentencing proceedings are expected to resume in December.