His wife stands accused of plotting his murder but Austin doesn’t believe a word of it and is just delighted to have her home after 10 months.
THE last time we saw him he looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Lonely and heartbroken, Austin Coetzee couldn’t fathom how his beloved wife could stand accused of plotting to kill him. But six months on he looks like a new man as he opens the door for us.
His brown shoes shine and he’s neatly dressed in dark jeans and dark-grey jacket. The aroma of a pot of curry cooking on the stove fills his home in Kenilworth, Cape Town. On the coffee table in the living room stands a bunch of orange roses with a card that reads, “Welcome home!”
Austin (66) grins from ear to ear as he confirms the news.
“She came home on Thursday afternoon,” he tells us. His wife of more than a decade, Petina Coetzee (45), is back home after being away for 10 long months.
Austin and Tina – as she’s known to family and friends – have been separated since 18 October last year after a tip-off led to her being taken into custody by police. She allegedly wanted to pay a hitman R200 000 to have Austin killed and was arrested after one of her employees informed the police of her plans (YOU, 9 March).
Tina isn’t home during our visit as her lawyers have advised her not to do interviews at this stage. One of the conditions of her and Austin’s reunion is that they may not talk about the ongoing court case as he’s a state witness.
And yet after everything that’s happened her husband still steadfastly maintains she’s innocent. The semiretired businessman says he has no qualms about sleeping under the same roof as the woman who stands accused of plotting his murder as he believes his wife is the victim of a scam.
“Her determination in that regard reinforced my belief she got dragged into a situation and she couldn’t get out of it,” he explains.
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin August 17, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin August 17, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!
THE eyes HAVE IT
They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life