Police promise to hunt down murderers

An elderly Discovery resident was the unfortunate victim of alleged robbers on the morning of Wednesday 14 August.

At around 12 noon various South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicles were seen in Sarah Street, Discovery.

According to the accounts of witnesses and neighbours, an elderly male resident (69) was murdered in his house during a break-in attempt at around 10.30am.

His wife was at work at the time.

Residents on scene said that the man was on his way out with a GM employee to retrieve his vehicle (that was in for repairs) when the incident occurred.

Officers were taking down the witness’ account of the events when the Record arrived on scene.

Neighbour Antoinette Venter told the Record that the elderly man was an immigrant from the UK but that his wife was South African.

“As I understand it, they have been living here for more than fifteen years.

“I’m only renting this house. I originally lived in Pretoria.”

Venter was so shocked by the events of the morning that she said she seriously will consider moving back to Pretoria, or even emigrating.

By the time the Record arrived on the scene Mrs Thompson (the wife) had not been informed about her husband’s death yet.

The Roodepoort police organised for trauma counsellor Lukas Visagie to be on scene for when Thompson arrives home from work.

Upon Thompson’s arrival, the Venters, the counsellor, Colonel Chris Wilken and Captain Jacques Viljoen took Thompson to the Venter home to explain, console her and treat her for the shock.

Neighbours commented that the Thompsons recently upgraded their security at the residence and that the area was rife with vehicle theft and suspicious characters lately.

Other comments included that the second suspect was seen wearing blue pants and that a revolver was found on scene.

Venter alleged that the suspect who later was locked in a Roodepoort police vehicle, commented that he was willing to cooperate with the police by pointing out the other suspect’s home. According to Colonel Wilken no evidence of forced entry was found.

“According to our findings, it would seem that the victim knew the perpetrators and opened his house to them.”

Wilken said that there were signs of struggle from the kitchen to the passage.

“The man succumbed to extensive blunt force trauma to the face and head – he was not shot.”

Wilken explained that, fortunately, a local patrolling security company officer saw an alleged intruder jumping over the wall. The security officer entered the property and arrested one of the suspects.

“The Roodepoort police will not rest until we find the other suspect. We will hunt him down.”