Shot man 'died of natural causes'

2009-10-28 09:56

Hilda Fourie

Pretoria - The death certificate of an auto electrician who was killed three weeks ago when he was shot in the heart by armed robbers in front of his family, states that he died of natural causes.

Amanda Locke, 43, was furious when she heard what was written on the death certificate of her husband Henry Locke, 39.

"He was shot dead in front of us, right in front of our eyes," she told Beeld on Tuesday.

"They said nothing. They just shot him. He fell where he was shot, and that is where he died.

'Impossible'

"How can the murder case proceed if the death certificate states he died of natural causes?

"It must be impossible that he died of natural causes. It can't be true."

Her husband was shot in the heart on October 5 on Elands game farm near Cullinan, northeast of Pretoria, in front of his wife, daughter Monique, 13, and quadriplegic son Dawie, 23.

She said she was told that the bullet had hit the tip of her husband's heart, which caused a heart attack.

Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs, said he was sure the information on the death certificate was wrong.

"It is a mistake that will definitely be rectified.

"The department apologises for the inconvenience it has caused," Mamoepa said.
 

- Beeld