They were also convicted of rape, robbery, kidnapping and the attempted murder of Cheslin Marsh in the Western Cape High Court.

Fourth accused Nashville Julius, who was charged with robbery and kidnapping, was also found guilty.

There was further good news for Marsh on judgment day. Marsh lost his hearing in one ear in a brutal attack after he and Cornelius were abducted.

Netwerk24 reported that the Cornelius family had started a campaign to raise money to buy a hearing aid for the 22-year-old Marsh.

By Wednesday morning the campaign had exceeded its initial R15 000 target by raising more than R20 000. 

Speaking to CapeTalk morning show host Kieno Kammies on Wednesday, Cornelius's cousin Lali van Zuydam elaborated on the family's initiative, News24 reported. 

The station then received a call from Charnae Pieterse of the Ear Institute in Bellville, who pledged to fully sponsor Cheslin's hearing aids. 

The money raised on the Backabuddy page set up for him should rather be used towards his studies or medical expenses, Pieterse said. 

Julius was convicted of two charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two charges of kidnapping, the Cape Argus reported. He had left the crime scene in Jan Cilliers Street after failing to get the car keys from Cornelius. 

All the crimes were committed within an 11-hour period. Cornelius, 21, and Marsh were hijacked while in her blue Citi Golf parked at the corner of Jan Cilliers and Bird Streets in May last year. 

The two were kidnapped and Cornelius was found dead a few hours later in Knorhoek Road, close to a wine farm in Stellenbosch. Her body was found face down with her pants lowered, while Marsh had been left for dead. 

In court, the gallery was unusually packed with members of the public, with a group wearing T-shirts bearing Cornelius's photo. 

The matter continues tomorrow.

Cape Times