Ex-Blue Bull axe accused Christian, joker
2011-03-30 23:42
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Dries Liebenberg and Eugene Gunning, Beeld
Durban. — Christian, joker and dedicated sportsman.
This is how the former Blue Bull who was arrested here in connection with a series of axe murders has been described in sports circles.
"If the allegations are true, it would be shocking. He is not the kind of person who would want to have a run-in with the law," said Eric Sauls, head coach of the SWD when the flanker played for the Eagles in 2002.
The 34-year-old former rugby player's name is known to Beeld.
He is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday on three charges of murder and one of attempted murder after a number of men were decapitated with an axe in the south of the city in the past two weeks.
During one of the attacks he apparently accused his victim of raping his daughter and infecting her with HIV.
Sauls said the tall, well-built 34-year-old former flanker, who was born in Umtata, is very talented, and he believed he would have reached greater heights.
According to the profile on SA Rugby’s website the former rugby player scored two tries while playing for the Barbarians, Blue Bulls and Eagles between 1996 and 2002.
Sauls said the man is a Christian and a man of integrity.
"Someone of good character."
Former Springbok Bevan Fortuin also said he is "a good guy".
He was always the joker in the Eagles team, Fortuin said. They lost contact after 2002.
According to SA Rugby’s website the former flanker is unmarried.
Regarding the rape allegations, police spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said on Wednesday that the police are currently concentrating on the murder charges.
The question of whether the suspected axe murderer does have a daughter, and if so, whether she was raped, will possibly be investigated only much later.
Indications are that two Sundays ago the axe murderer first struck when he attacked a pedestrian in Mobeni. The man dodged the blow and fled.
About an hour later a security guard was decapitated in Lamontville.
It turned out on Wednesday that the silver car in which the victims were apparently followed in residential areas like Lamontville, Umbilo and Yellowwood Park was a rented car.
The police took possession of the car when a task team arrested the 34-year-old man at 01:30 on Tuesday at a house in Yellowwood Park.
An axe with a 40cm handle, as well as blood-stained clothes, were also found there.