Robbers shot - by each other

2008-05-25 22:38

Nokulunga Ngobese

Pietermaritzburg - Two robbery suspects were in hospital under police guard on Friday after they robbed a farming couple before allegedly shooting each other while fleeing.

Senior Superintendent Henry Budhram said the pair stormed the home of farmer Moray Norton, 50, in Harburg at about 17:00 and demanded money at gunpoint. Norton was in the kitchen when he was confronted by the pair.

"Both men were armed with handguns," said Budhram.

He said Norton told the attackers the money was in the bedroom, and they went with him to the room, where Norton's wife, Debra, 50, was resting.

Debra was forced to open the safe, but there was no money in it. She was assaulted with the butt of a gun by the men as they continued to demand money, said Budhram.

She told them she would look in the office for money and they accompanied the couple to the office. Debra managed to gather about R1 000 from drawers in the office and gave it to the men, who fled.

Budhram said the police and a local security accompany were alerted and one of the suspects was arrested about a kilometre from the farm.

Both suspects shot in the legs

"The suspect was hiding near a cliff. During the arrest, it was discovered that he had gunshot wounds to his legs. When questioned, he claimed he had been shot by his accomplice."

Police found a 9mm hand gun with ammunition in his possession. He was taken to hospital and admitted under police guard.

Further investigations led to the arrest of the second man at a home in the Mqeku area, where it was discovered that he had also gunshot wounds to his legs. He also claimed that he had been shot by his accomplice.

A 9mm handgun with ammunition was recovered from him. He also was admitted to hospital under police guard.

Investigations are still under way.

- The Witness