Search for CT 'killer'

2003-06-09 09:50

Cape Town - A "dangerous killer" is on the loose in Cape Town after escaping from a Valkenberg Hospital's high security section.

Police were still searching on Monday for the 38-year-old man, Johannes van Rooyen, accused of the murder of a Cape Town landscape architect. Van Rooyen escaped from the psychiatric hospital on Friday.

Police detective, Piet Viljoen, told News24 on Monday that a full search by the police had already been launched.

While Viljoen said that van Rooyen "might not be armed", he cautioned the public against approaching the criminal because "he has killed before".

Police said that van Rooyen was dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt when he escaped. He has dark curly hair.

It is believed that van Rooyen is heading for Nelspruit and may be travelling in a blue VW Golf or hitchhiking.

Van Rooyen was undergoing mental assesment for the murder of Ian Ford - one of Cape Town International Convention Centre's landscape architects.

Viljoen said that van Rooyen was supposed to be returned to Pollsmoor Prison on Monday, and scheduled to appear before the Cape High Court in September.

Van Rooyen was arrested last year moments before his escape into Mozambique.

The Cape Times reported on Monday that psychiatrists at Vlakenberg Hospital had found van Rooyen fit to stand trial, and had told him so on Friday morning. Van Rooyen escaped the same day in the afternoon.

The police are still trying to put pieces together of how van Rooyen escaped from the hospital's Ward 20, said to be highly guarded by police and security personnel.

Among Ward 20 patients are the two men accused of the Sizzler's gay massage parlour's massacre. -Sapa

- News24