Castration murder case hits snag
2007-02-21 08:57
Port Elizabeth - The sensational killing and mutilation of businessman Roy Scallan took a new tack on Tuesday, when the chief suspect in the case committed suicide in his cell, within half an hour of his arrest.
Two brothers from Transkei were arrested in the Walmer suburb on Tuesday, in connection with the murder earlier this month of 54-year-old Scallan.
Scallan was found dead at his business premises in Walmer on February 12, with multiple stab wounds to his body and his genitals cut off.
The attackers may have surprised him the previous evening at his desk.
T-shirt could have been Scallan's
Senior superintendent Hein Fourie, head of Walmer region detective branch, said the men were arrested at about 16:00 and brought to Walmer police station for processing.
The 26-year-old suspect was found by police officials at about 17:30, where he had used a T-shirt to hang himself from the bars in his single cell.
Director Neil Jantjies, commander of the Walmer police station, said it was suspected that the Billabong T-shirt used by the suspect to hang himself, may have belonged to Scallon.
Die Burger had heard that the police were investigating the possibility that Scallon's killing may have been motivated by revenge for sexual deeds he was said to have committed with some of his workers.
Jantjies would not discuss this possibility.
Both men apparently worked for Scallan.
The latest developments have put an end to rumours of a possible muti-murder.
According to Jantjies the brother who committed suicide could have given them invaluable information on the rumours of sexual activities.
He confirmed that the suspect who died in the cell had been positively linked with Scallon, after a laptop bag and two cables that belonged to the murdered man had been found in his possession.
The stolen goods were identified by Scallon's widow, Juliette Scallon.
Fourie said the other suspect had been tied indirectly to the murder.
Die Burger was also informed that the police were following up on the possibility of other suspects.