Joan Singrew murder: Husband's movements scrutinised

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The troubled relationship between Duane Singrew and his wife Joan, marked by allegations of domestic violence, a deteriorating marriage, claims of adultery and multiple protection orders, remains central to the murder case currently before the George Circuit High Court.

Reports indicate that in the event of a divorce half of the marital estate was legally owed to Joan, a settlement her husband reportedly opposed.

Singrew, who has been under cross-examination for most of the week, appeared in court on Thursday 15 January alongside his cousin Heinrich Jumat. Singrew faced the second day of questioning from state advocate Evadné Kortje. The state challenged Singrew’s account, presenting evidence and questions aimed at testing his testimony.

Jumat, standing trial alongside Singrew, remained seated in the dock throughout proceedings, at times swaying from side to side.

Joan’s body was discovered on Monday 25 November 2024, down an embankment in the bushes next to Charles Street in Great Brak, coinciding with her birthday and the first day of the annual 16 Days of Activism against violence towards women and children.

Singrew and Jumat were arrested shortly afterwards and have remained in custody since.

During his testimony last year, Singrew stated that he was at Great Brak River between 12:00 and approximately 13:00 on Thursday 21 November, the day Joan was reported missing. He told the court he was late picking up their children because he had visited a friend in Charles Street to discuss business, adding that he regularly visited Great Brak to see family. CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras reportedly placed him at the location for approximately one hour.

Singrew was driving a white Ford Figo, in which investigators later found Joan’s DNA and blood stains on the boot, front passenger seat and door frame, driver’s side and carpet under the pedals. The boot carpet was reportedly “wet to the touch” and an unknown white powder, along with blood droplets, was discovered on the back of the carpet.

Evidence presented during cross-examination also showed that Singrew travelled to Great Brak River on Sunday afternoon 24 November. In his initial testimony he said he went to look for his wife and claimed to have left George at 14:00, but ANPR evidence indicated he left at approximately 15:53 and returned at 18:10.

ANPR data further records his movements on Monday 25 November, driving down Nelson Mandela Boulevard towards the N2 at 17:29, near Suiderkruis in Great Brak River at 18:06, and back in George at 19:18. Singrew told police he went to Great Brak after seeing a Facebook post about an unidentified woman’s body discovered in the area.

Police had requested a statement from Singrew the day before Joan’s body was found, but he declined. He also allegedly denied leaving George over the preceding weekend.

During cross-examination, Singrew was asked about the possibility that a stranger could have killed his wife and dumped her body in Great Brak River on the same day he was in the area. He replied that the coincidence was striking, adding that it was possible someone who knew him could have carried out the act and tried to frame him. He denies any involvement in Joan’s death or that he ever assaulted her.

At the time of her disappearance, Joan had an active protection order against Singrew and was reportedly planning to open a case for its breach on the same day she went missing. When police visited the couple’s home later that night, the protection order along with her handbag and cellphone were missing and have not been recovered to date.

The night before her disappearance, she was dropped off at home by a man with whom she allegedly had a relationship.

According to his testimony last year, he was followed by Singrew for a considerable distance while driving home that night.
Investigators also discovered blood stains in Singrew’s home that appeared to have been cleaned up, including on walls and floors and in Joan’s bedroom.

During cross-examination, the state suggested that an argument had occurred at the home and that Singrew assaulted his wife, strangled her with his bare hands and then disposed of her body. The state further alleged that he staged the scene to make it appear as though Joan had left the house and was killed by a stranger.

“Like trash, you discarded Joan Singrew, the mother of your two children, your wife of 17 years,” stated state advocate Evadné Kortje during cross-examination.

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