Cops quiz 3 over farmer's murder
2010-01-23 18:14
bloemfontein - Free State police were questioning three men on Saturday afternoon in connection with the murder of a Ficksburg farmer, earlier in the same day.
Sergeant Majang Mosupa said the incident occurred at around 05:00 on Saturday at the farm Good Hope.
She said the farmer's wife Dorothy Gieseke was alone in the house when she was surprised by three men armed with a firearm and screwdriver.
"They threatened her and demanded money and firearms from her and when they could not get any they took her handbag and cellphone."
Mosupa said the woman managed to press the panic button inside the house and the three suspects ran away without hurting her.
Police said when the woman went outside to look for her husband she found him dead. He earlier went outside to feed animals and water some plants.
Mosupa said a blood covered stone was found at the scene with which the attackers apparently hit Ernest Gieseke, 69, on the head. "His throat was also cut with a sharp object."
Mosupa said a search for the attackers started immediately and three men, between the age of 16 and 30, were found not far from the farm.
Police are still looking for more suspects in the case.
- SAPA