Man kills son, injures wife

2007-12-31 15:46

Johannesburg - A man is expected to appear in court on charges of murder and attempted murder after he allegedly shot and killed his 10-year-old son and injured his wife in Plessislaer, Pietermaritzburg, police said on Monday.

In the early hours of Monday morning, the two shooting victims were brought to the Edendale Hospital, said Inspector Joey Jeevan.

"On arrival at the hospital, police established that one of the victims, a 10-year-old boy, had already died; the second victim, identified as the child's mother, sustained gunshot wounds to the thigh and stomach," said Jeevan.

Initial investigations established that at about 23:00 on Sunday night, the woman and her husband had an argument, said Jeevan.

The father of the child allegedly sent the boy and his 16-year-old sister out of the house during the argument.

While outside, the children heard gunshots from the house and ran inside.

It is alleged that the man was still holding a firearm in his hand and was threatening to shoot when the children intervened - and ran between their father and mother.

It is believed that the father fired another shot, killing his son.

"The injured woman grabbed hold of the fire-arm and ran to a neighbour's house, where she left the firearm for safekeeping and sought assistance," said Jeevan.

The man was arrested and a CZ 75, 9mm, licensed fire-arm, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered.

Police are investigating the circumstances around the incident and the man is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court shortly.

- SAPA