A 24-year-old suspect allegedly used an axe to brutally murder four family members, aged between five and 69. Image: Pixabay
Suspect arrested after allegedly ‘crushing’ family members with axe
A 24-year-old suspect allegedly used an axe to brutally murder four family members, aged between five and 69.
A 24-year-old suspect allegedly used an axe to brutally murder four family members, aged between five and 69. Image: Pixabay
An axe-wielding suspect allegedly butchered four people – who are believed to be family members – in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, on Thursday, 30 March. The brutal murders took place in the France Locality.
Eyewitness and local community alert police, leading to swift arrest of suspect
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said the initial investigation revealed that the 24-year-old suspect was in a room whilst the other family members – aged five to 69 – were seated in another room in the same homestead.
“He went to their room and started crushing them with an axe. They allegedly died at the scene. Police were alerted to the incident by members of the local community, and one eye witness who escaped the ordeal unharmed,” said the police spokesperson.
The identities of the victims are:
- Nomantombi Nobanda, 69
- Thembinkosi Nobanda, 42
- Nomhayaya Phatekile, 38
- Olwande Phatekile, 5
The motive for the axe killing is not known at this stage. The suspect was immediately arrested in the village and was expected to appear before the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 31 March, on multiple charges of murder.
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