Hannah Cornelius, a compassionate and talented student in Cape Town, South Africa, met a tragic end on 26 May 2017. Following a night out with her friend Cheslin Marsh, they fell victim to a brutal carjacking and abduction by attackers armed with knives and a screwdriver.
The assailants subjected the pair to an agonizing 11-hour ordeal, eventually gang-raping and murdering Hannah in a gruesome manner.
Early Life and Background
Hannah Cornelius was born on 12 February 1996, in Cape Town, South Africa. She was the daughter of Willem and Anna Cornelius, both legal professionals. Her father was a magistrate, and her mother, a lawyer. Hannah had a younger brother, Andres who was diagnosed with autism.
She grew up in a loving and supportive home excelling in her studies and showcasing talents in drama and music. She played the piano and was known for her kindness and humility.
Anna Cornelius: “She was a beautiful, kind, and intelligent young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.”
In 2015, Hannah enrolled at Stellenbosch University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in humanities. She moved into Irene’s residence and used a 1984 Volkswagen Citi Golf, a gift from her grandmother, for transportation, per News24.
She was known for her helpful and respectful demeanor. Her love for animals led her to volunteer at Tears Animal Sanctuary. During her second year at university, she formed a close friendship with Cheslin Marsh, a fellow student.
The Night of the Attack
On 26 May 2017, Hannah and Cheslin went out for drinks with friends. Later, Hannah offered to drive Cheslin home as he planned to skateboard back in the middle of the night.
Around 3:23 a.m, after arriving near Cheslin’s home, they sat in the parked car unaware they were being watched.
Four men—Geraldo Parsons, 27, Vernon Witbooi, 33, Eben van Niekerk, 28, and Nashville Julius, 29—armed with knives and a screwdriver approached them. They forcibly entered the vehicle, held the pair hostage and robbed them.
Cheslin Marsh: “I suddenly saw a hand, holding a screwdriver, coming through the driver’s window. The person held the screwdriver close to Hannah Cornelius’s neck and the next moment there was another person at my side as well. They said they would kill us if we made a noise”, per IOL.
Nashville Julius soon left, while the other three drove off with Hannah and Cheslin, looking for drugs.
Cheslin Marsh’s Ordeal
The attackers forced Hannah to sit between the front seats while Cheslin was locked in the trunk, as per The Mirror.
They stopped at a petrol station and unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw money using Cheslin’s bank card.
They then drove to Kraaifontein where they removed Cheslin from the trunk and led him into a wooded area.
Ordered to lie down with his head on a brick, Cheslin sensed danger and said a final prayer. The assailants then picked up bricks and brutally attacked him. Believing he was dead they left him and returned to the car.
Cheslin Marsh: “…they were taking me into the bushes…and then they told me I should lay my head on a piece of brick and that’s when I realised these people are gonna take my life away. And as I was laying on the brick, I closed my eyes and prayed and asked the Lord for forgiveness for whatever I did in this life. Because I definitely knew I’m gonna go to another one and I didn’t want to go”, per the Irish Sun.
Murder of Hannah Cornelius
Terrified, Hannah in an attempt to secure her release suggested to the attackers that they could have sex with her if they let her go afterward, the Irish Sun reports.
However, they drove her to another location where each of them took turns raping her. After the assault, they forced her into the car’s trunk and drove to Groenhof Farm.
At the farm, in a horrific act of violence the perpetrators murdered Hannah. They stabbed her in the neck and crushed her head twice with an 82-pound rock, killing her instantly, per Metro.
Geraldo Parsons: “She didn’t want to climb out of the boot. She was holding on to the car. She started panicking. Eben came up and stabbed her. I let her go as the blood started to spill. Then I saw Vernon arrive with a rock. I told Vernon “don’t kill her, we’ve already killed Cheslin, let’s leave her”. But Vernon threw the rock on Hannah’s head”, The DailyMail reports.
Cheslin, despite his severe injuries, regained consciousness and managed to seek help from a nearby residence. He contacted the police and provided a detailed account of the crime.
However, by the time authorities responded, Hannah had already succumbed to her injuries.
Her body was discovered by two borehole pump technicians who initially mistook it for an object before realizing the tragic reality, per Timeslive.
Following the attack, the criminals continued their spree using Hannah’s vehicle to rob three women. Law enforcement identified the stolen car and engaged in a high-speed chase in Devon Valley.
Vernon Witbooi and Geraldo Parsons were apprehended first and they later revealed the identities of their accomplices. All four men were arrested and faced trial in 2018.
Trial and Conviction
During the trial, all the accused pleaded not guilty and showed no remorse, even laughing in court. Cheslin Marsh provided crucial testimony against them and strong evidence led to their conviction.
Vernon Witbooi, Geraldo Parsons, and Eben van Niekerk received life sentences while Nashville Julius was sentenced to 22 years in prison as he was not directly involved in the attack on Cheslin or the murder and rape of Hannah.
Rector Professor Wim de Villiers: “Our campus community is shocked by this senseless death and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the student who lost her life, as well as the student who was injured”, Per Nzherald.
The death of Hannah deeply affected her family. Her mother, Anna Cornelius, passed away in a swimming accident a year after her daughter’s murder.
Her father Willem Cornelius later reflected that Anna may not have had the strength to cope with the loss of Hannah.
The tragedy left their son Andres struggling to understand the loss of his sister believing she was on an extended holiday.
Willem Cornelius: “Every night, he stops infront of a framed photograph of Hannah and asks “When are her holidays over? When is she coming home?” This has now been going on every night for a year and a half.”
Approximately three months after Hannah’s death, Willem Cornelius was diagnosed with cancer. He battled the illness but ultimately succumbed to it on 9 December 2022, marking yet another devastating chapter for the Cornelius family.
