The eyewitness who first spotted Marthinus Pelser, Nicoli Roscher, said she would remember the vehicle registration anywhere.
Roscher said she was driving home from work on Christiaan De Wet Road when she saw the copper-coloured Kia Picanto on the side of the road. “I drove to the Sasol garage and circled back to make sure that it was, in fact, the right car. I distinctly remember the registration number.”
“I immediately called Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs to alert her to the vehicle’s whereabouts.”
“I didn’t see anyone inside the car, so we stood around for a while and I decided to go home,” added Roscher. In need of petrol, she pulled into the Sasol garage.
Read an account from the Roodepoort Northsider journalist on scene
“I saw a man in between the dustbins at the back of the garage and thought it was strange for the area,” said Roscher.
Pelser, as it turned out, looked up at Roscher, “I immediately recognised it was him from seeing his picture that had been circulating all over the news and Facebook.”
Roscher rushed back to the police that were still surrounding the stranded Kia Picanto. She guided them to where he was, and that was the beginning of his end.
Read the full story of Pelser’s arrest
“I guess I was at the right place at the right time. This case stuck with me because I have a three-year-old child and live in the area.”
Roscher added, “I am just so glad that they have found him and that he has been apprehended.”
