Kerry's body 'thrown into sea'
2008-09-18 09:37
Dubai - According to the most recent admission by Mark Arnold to Dubai police, Kerry Winter, 35, died after he hit her with a baseball bat on August 20. He then threw her body into the sea.
But her family say they doubt whether a word Arnold said could be believed.
Winter's brother Kurt, who has been searching for her since she went missing a month ago, spoke from Dubai on Wednesday, saying, "The confession has not been put down in a written statement. He [Arnold] can therefore change it at any given time."
Kerry disappeared after witnesses saw Arnold, a British citizen, apparently assault her with a baseball bat, put her in her 4x4 and speed off.
Search
He initially claimed she was still conscious when he dropped her off at a busy desert road. Police searches for her in the desert and police divers in the sea have not found anything.
Kurt will probably return to South Africa over the weekend as his visa expires, but his brother Pilmt will then go to Dubai to continue looking for their sister.
He said the Dubai police kept a lid on all their investigations until they were successful.
"They are therefore not impressed with our printing of pamphlets and T-shirts to help look for my sister. It is also Ramadan now. Then they only work until 14:00 and not at all over weekends."
Still hopeful
Although the family was prepared for the worst, there was a bit of hope as Winter's body had not yet been found. "We won't give up until we have answers," said Kurt.
Arnold was arrested on a charge of assault and intimidation, as he apparently threatened the witnesses who saw him hit Kerry.
Kurt said on Wednesday that he had heard for the first time from family members that Arnold had on occasion physically abused his sister during their five-year relationship.
"The relationship ended in June and although he had a new girlfriend, he still followed my sister around."
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said they were being informed about the police investigation, but that it was protocol not to interfere in the police investigations of foreign countries.