Top chef murdered in KZN

2008-01-08 16:52

Durban - A French chef who had made her home on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast and earned accolades for her cooking over the years was found bludgeoned and burnt to death in her Ramsgate home, police said on Tuesday.

Superintendent Zandra Hechter said the partially burnt body of 69-year old Yvonne Cosson was found covered with soil next to one of the walls of her home.

Initial investigations revealed that Cosson was dragged from her bed down to a lounge where a struggle ensued.

"You can see she put up a heavy fight," Hechter said, adding that Cosson was then dragged out of the house and set alight. Soil was thrown over the body in a bid to hide it.

Hechter said police believed that robbery was the motive but apart from the victim's car, police could note determine what had been taken.

She was last seen alive at 20:00 on Sunday. A post mortem would be carried out on Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

It was not clear whether the French citizen had died as a result of the struggle with her attacker or from being burnt.

Cosson did not have any family in South Africa. Hechter said police were attempting to trace a brother, whom they believed still lived in France.

Cosson, who emigrated from Normandy area of France more than 20 years ago, owned and operated the restaurant La Petite Normandie.

The restaurant was regularly nominated as one of the top eating establishments in KwaZulu-Natal and in 2005 her restaurant won the Eat Out Johnnie Walker Top Country Kitchens award.

Eat Out assistant editor Lisa van Aswegen said: "That's quite a shock."

"She had an amazing spirit and a naughty twinkle in her eye," said Van Aswegen.

- SAPA