Shock over dominee's axe death
2012-11-12 08:51
Bloemfontein - The congregation of the NG church Kerkenberg in Harrismith is in mourning after one of its dominees was brutally murdered - allegedly by his adopted son.
Dominee Willem Brits, 60, passed away after he was shot and attacked with an axe on Thursday night, allegedly by his adopted son Martin, 28, reported Volksblad.
Dominee Bobby Scherrer who led the Sunday service said: “There is no congregation anywhere in mourning like this. This congregation’s hearts are filled with misery.”
Dominee Brits and his soon-to-be son-in-law Gerhard Vermeulen, 25, were killed in the attack and the dominee's wife, Dorothea Brits, 59, was critically injured.
Martin, who allegedly said he was ordered by an intruder in the house to tie up his family and Vermeulen, and who was then left unconscious in a bath tub and also tied up, was arrested on Friday.
The murdered dominee's daughter Thea, who lost her fiancé in the tragedy, was in church on Sunday with her other brothers, Dawid and Willie.
Thea was at times crying loudly during the service.
All of the Brits children were adopted at birth and Dominee Scherrer said they would be assisted and supported by the community.
Scherrer also prayed for Martin, who was in police custody.
