Teen led cops to bodies

2008-06-20 19:02

Johannesburg - Three toddlers who were found murdered in Rosemore, George, may have been killed with a blunt object, Western Cape police said on Friday.

The children were reported missing on Thursday evening, and investigations led police to the arrest of a 16-year-old shepherd, who then pointed out the bodies.

"Two boys, Adnill Pienaar, 5, Jamaine Geduld, 3, and a girl Hendrolene Koetaan, 4, were found in a ditch at midnight, on the banks of a river in Bossiesgif where they lived," said Captain Malcolm Pojie.

He said they were hidden in the bushes with their bodies piled on top of each other and they could possibly have been killed with a large stone or a heavy rock.

He could not say on which part of their bodies they were injured.

"The children were last seen playing together in the Bossiesgif area and their parents reported them missing at 18:00."

Missing Children South Africa urged parents to know where their children were at all times.

"Parents should also immediately report to the nearest police station if their children are missing. The quicker you give the information to the police the quicker they can start searching -- and the chances of finding the child unharmed are significantly greater," said the group's spokesman Pieter Boshoff.

"We believe the police have done a great job and worked very hard on this case, this is commendable and we thank them for their hard work."

The 16-year-old will appear in the George Magistrate's Court on Monday.

- SAPA