Sizzlers: ID kits spark 'flood'

2003-02-04 10:38

Cape Town - Western Cape police have received an "incredible" response after the publication of identikits of two men wanted in connection with the Sizzlers massage-parlour murders in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Captain Etienne Terblanche said on Tuesday investigators were sifting through the information from the public, "but, obviously, it's a long, drawn-out process involving an incredible amount of work."

Seven employees of the gay massage parlour, a client, and the owner were massacred. They were found tied up and shot in the back of the head with a 9mm pistol in the early hours of January 20. Most of them had their throats slit with a carpet knife.

The sole survivor, believed to be a man in his 20s, managed to stagger to a nearby petrol station to raise the alarm, even though he had similar wounds.

He is in a stable condition and recovering well under police guard in Groote Schuur Hospital.

Clients might have been turned away

Terblanche said police wanted to contact clients who may have arrived at Sizzlers about the time the men were murdered, but who might have been turned away by the suspects.

Police are looking for four suspects who reportedly drove off in an old-model white BMW.

Terblanche said: "We know the suspects were probably at the house for a period of time and we also believe there could have been clients who came to the massage parlour at that time and were turned away."

He said police understood they may be reluctant to come forward, "but, we will respect their privacy and not reveal their identities".

Terblanche said it was important the public was told about the investigation, but it was equally important not to jeopardise it.

He appealed to anyone with information, irrespective of whether they believed the information to be of consequence or not, to come forward.

A team of six investigators from the serious and violent crimes unit is probing the killings.

- SAPA