ID kits of kidnappers released
2005-10-12 08:20
Johannesburg - Police have released the identikits of two people they are looking for in connection with the abduction of 10-year-old Liam Aspeling in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg.
One suspect was about 28-years-old, 1.75m tall, had a coffee-coloured complexion and was wearing a light-brown, long-sleeved T-shirt and a brown hat at the time of the kidnapping, said Gauteng police spokesperson senior superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.
The other was about 40-years-old, of medium build with a dark complexion. He had short hair and was wearing a red shirt with stripes.
Other than that, there had been no progress in the search for the Grade Four pupil, who was snatched from a car outside his home on Tuesday, Vaal Rand police spokesperson Superintendent Maria Mazibuko said on Wednesday.
Boy's father a state witness
The Star newspaper reported the father of the boy was a state witness in a multi-million rand hijacking case in Cape Town.
"The state was going to call Vernon James Aspeling as an accomplice witness," the newspaper quoted advocate William Booth as saying.
Booth is representing brothers Selwyn and Virgil de Vries, suspected of being the masterminds behind the R2.2m robberies, carried out between June and October 2003, according to the report.
"He (Aspeling) was involved in the crime but turned State witness," the Star quoted Booth.
"The state was relying on him as an important witness to prove the brothers were involved. There isn't a lot else ..."
Police referred comment on this matter to the national prosecuting authority, which was not available to offer comment early on Wednesday.
- SAPA