Kyle Maspero and Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron appear in the Simon's Town Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of Rosemary Theron. Photos: Armand Hough Kyle Maspero and Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron appear in the Simon's Town Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of Rosemary Theron. Photos: Armand Hough
Incense smoke and trance music marked the start on Friday night of a weekend-long memorial gathering at the Oude Molen Eco Village near Pinelands for Rosemary Theron.
A few people trickled past a shrine set up outside an old hall in the middle of the village where a ceremony was under way.
The event came a day after Rosemary Theron’s daughter Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron, 19, and her boyfriend, Kyle Maspero, 18, appeared in court in Simon’s Town with their co-accused, Godfrey Scheepers, 20, in connection with the murder of the 39-year-old mother-of-three.
Phoenix Theron, who broke down in tears in the dock and could be heard sobbing as she was lead to the cells, abandoned her bail application, along with Maspero.
Scheepers confessed to helping Maspero move the body to rebury it in Strandfontein, and was released on bail last week.
On Friday night, Rosemary Theron’s friend Marcia Nair, who helped organise the memorial, told Weekend Argus the red cloth of the shrine symbolised “the blood shed” and “Mother Earth”.
“Rosemary and I were mothers of about the same age,” she said, adding they had met when they were young, and performing at festivals.
“We went through our rites of passage together.”
She said she has been mourning since March, when the entertainer, clown and stilt-walker was first reported missing.
“Most of the art here is inspired by this deep violence,” she said.
Loved ones who fondly knew Rosemary Theron as “Rosie”, were invited to pitch tents at the site. They were to be treated to musical acts.
Authorities have yet to release Rosemary Theron’s body to her family.
During their first court appearance the State alleged that in February Phoenix Theron and her mother had an argument. After Rosemary had gone out, Theron and Maspero smoked drugs while they discussed killing her. Upon her return, Maspero allegedly strangled Rosemary with a rope while Theron hugged her.
Close family friend Richard Kraak said: “It’s quite peculiar circumstances that we are now having to assist both Rosie’s daughter and alleged murderer. But she is our daughter in the community and the community is responding to her predicament.
“We are expecting Phoenix to rise out of the ashes after a long period of healing and rehabilitation, if it transpires that she may have to spend time in prison.”
He said they hoped to raise funds during the memorial weekend to hire a “more experienced” lawyer, should Theron request it.
He said a more formal memorial service would be held later.
Messages of condolence and support, some from strangers, have been pouring in to a Facebook page “In Memory of Rosemary Theron”, which says it was created as “a memory bank” for loved ones to share stories and photos of her life.
Some of the posts also expressed mixed views about whether to support Phoenix Theron. Daina Simone de Agrela wrote: “What’s going to happen with Kyle if Phoenix gets bail? Honestly, she doesn’t deserve bail.”
Craig Templer offered some sympathy with his post: “We only briefly met Rosemary through various parties but she touched us even then. Clearly she shone very bright for very many. My deepest sympathy is for Phoenix, her daughter.”
Abandoning their bail application on Thursday, Theron and Maspero said they did not want to “waste the court’s time any further”. It was their second appearance.
Before proceedings commenced, Scheepers looked anxious as he and his girlfriend clutched hands.
Scheepers played a pivotal role in finding Rosemary Theron’s decomposed body.
He and the two alleged killers were arrested on September 26.
At the start of court proceedings, Theron took her place in the dock, dressed in a grey hooded top.
She was quickly handed a tissue by defence attorney Tracy Dowman as tears started trickling down her face.
Maspero’s head looked recently shaven, and tiny holes were scattered across the front of his beige T-shirt, which appeared to have been ripped.
As he took a seat next to Theron, they exchanged a few words but they made no eye contact with Scheepers.
Scheepers, who was accompanied by his mother, sat more than an arm’s length from the pair in the dock but kept glancing in their direction.
His bail was extended on Thursday.
The matter was postponed to November 19 for further investigation, and for the State to obtain further statements. - Saturday Argus