Police probe mortuary sex
2005-08-04 15:42
Cape Town - Western Cape police are investigating necrophilia and the illegal amputation of body parts at the Salt River mortuary, they said on Thursday.
Superintendent Rian Pool said a pathologist took fluid and tissue samples from a body as a "precautionary measure" to determine whether or not the corpse had been sexually violated after death.
The identity of the deceased would not be revealed at this stage, because the investigation was only a precautionary measure to determine "beyond all doubt" that no violation of the body occurred after death.
"Should the outcome of the investigation indicate that post mortem violation took place it will be made public," said Pool.
Police were also investigating the illegal amputation of a foot from the body of an accident victim received at the mortuary on July 31.
According to an autopsy report conducted on August 1, the body still had both feet.
"At approximately 15:45 a police officer discovered that the right foot of the body had been amputated.
An investigation into the illegal amputation of the leg was immediately launched."
Pool said both case were being investigated by the police and the investigations were being closely monitored by the ndependent complaints directorate.
- SAPA