Death by appointment

2004-04-01 10:24

Christel Raubenheimer

Pretoria - The ex-wife of a former police officer and her lawyer apparently had been waiting for him when he walked into her business and opened fire on them on Tuesday.

Naomi Hanekom was shot in the head and the stomach and died in Muelmed Hospital a few hours later.

The lawyer, Pierre Els, was shot in the face, and when he fell, was shot in the back of his head, his fiancée Suegnet Allegrucci said on Wednesday.

Els handled Hanekom's divorce some time ago.

Allegrucci said Hanekom "had been through hell" with her ex-husband. "He didn't deserve her," she said.

On the day of the shooting, Hanekom and Els were supposed to meet her ex-husband and his lawyer at her car dealership in Pretoria. It was not clear what the meeting would have been about.

The suspect, the father of Hanekom's two young daughters, apparently arrived alone at the business about 18:00.

He allegedly entered the office and opened fire on Hanekom and Els.

Allegrucci said: "Fortunately Pierre didn't even see the shooting coming."

A security guard, who must have heard the shots, called the police. Captain Piletjie Sebola said the suspect was arrested on the premises.

Els's 15-year-old daughter was on a hockey tour in North West when she heard about her father's death.

Allegrucci said she only heard about Els's death when family members called to sympathise later on Tuesday.

An employee at the business said Hanekom had remarried about a year ago.

Apparently Hanekom had taken out life insurance to the value of R4m shortly before her death. It is not known who the beneficiary is.

The suspect is expected to appear in court on Thursday.

- Beeld