'Drugs may have led to killing'
2005-05-26 12:32
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Johannesburg - Samples of what appears to be drug residue found at the scene of a triple murder and suicide in East London have been sent to Pretoria for testing, Eastern Cape police said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, police found the bodies of Dave Blasko, 50, his wife Barbara, 45, and their 19-year-old daughter Shannon at the Kennaway flats where they were staying.
Shannon's boyfriend Paul Vermeulen was also found dead at the scene, with a 9mm handgun next to him. All have been shot in the head.
Inspector Stephen Marais said: "We have found wrapping paper with specks on it and have send it for testing. At this stage we can't confirm that there were drugs involved in the incident."
Police were still treating the case as a triple murder/suicide. Police suspect Vermeulen shot dead the Blasko family on Tuesday and then killed himself. The motive for the killings was unknown.
News24 quoted unidentified friends of Vermeulen and Shannon claiming that the two were heavy cocaine users. The website said Vermeulen might have been in debt with drug dealers.
- SAPA