Almere man accused of strangling South African mother of two; Trial set for 2020

A 40-year-old man from Almere is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in a home in his hometown in June. The trial against Kamil O. will start on February 26th, the court said during a case status hearing on Wednesday. The victim is Parus Pillay, a 43-year-old body-builder from Durban in South Africa, according to South African media.

Pillay was found dead in a home on Messienplantsoen in Almere on June 7th. During a previous hearing, the Public Prosecution Service said that she was strangled to death, but the indictment against O. only says she was killed by violence, according to Omroep Flevoland.

Relatives told South African newspaper The Post that Pillay emigrated to the Netherlands in 2017 with her two daughters after she was offered a job at a travel agency. Her oldest daughter returned to South Africa to live with her father when she turned 18. Pillay's youngest daughter is now also back with her father.

"From what we know, the accused was just an acquaintance. We know nothing else about him or his relationship with Parus", the relative said. "This is a difficult process for the children, and we are trying to be strong for them."

A lawyer representing Pillay's two daughters told the court on Wednesday that they will be claiming damages. They also want to read a victim statement during the trial next year.