I really need to let people know that my husband (Mr Thompson as in UPDATE: Police promise to hunt down murderers, 14 August) was not careless with security issues at all. I have a problem with the Saps statement that appears to cast the blame on him — yet security was something he was particularly conscious and careful of.
I’m referring to the statement, “according to our findings it seems that the victim knew the perpetrators and opened his door to them”.
There is no way that he would have done this. He would not even have opened the driveway street gate to ‘visitors’ unless he had expressly requested their presence. He would rather have spoken to them at the gate without opening it.
He would never have opened the security gate of our back door if he had seen anyone, even someone he knew, outside in the garden.
The perpetrators would have had to climb over the wall in order to gain access to our property — thus they have been trespassing.
We were even more cautious after the attempted housebreaking a few weeks ago.
I may not have witnessed it, but knowing my husband’s character, I can say with absolute surety that the perpetrators were hiding and took him by surprise when he opened the back door and security gate to go out and meet the GM employee.
My husband has been a resident in this house for 33 years.
Roma Thompson is the wife of the late Mr Geoff Thompson, who tragically died during a break-in attempt on 14 August. The comment referred to was that of Roodepoort SAPS’ Colonel Wilken on scene, attained only after the police and the coroner have concluded their initial scene investigation. The Record does not hold this comment as the opinion of the publication, rather, as that of the Roodepoort SAPS with which the Record worked respectfully on scene. Our condolences to you and your friends and family for your loss — Mathilde Myburgh, journalist.
