Man makes 'killer machine'
2003-10-01 22:29
Bloemfontein - An unemployed Bloemfontein man suffering from depression has committed suicide by using a complicated machine, which he designed specifically for the deed.
Pieter Posthumus's grisly machine consisted of an electric saw and a firearm. All the parts were taped together.
Apparently he wanted to make doubly sure he died.
Posthumus, 35, also packed blankets, sheets and cushions around the machine. These acted as a silencer.
The 35-year-old man tied himself to a bench and positioned the saw in line with his neck. A pistol was aimed at his right temple.
Posthumus's domestic helper found a letter on the door on Wednesday morning. The letter read "Knock hard. Busy with cutting work".
Elsa Gerber, a police spokesperson, said Posthumus had a bullet wound through the right temple. The saw had sliced halfway through his neck before it apparently switched itself off. It's not clear how the mechanism was activated.
The entire "suicide machine" was removed by police for forensic testing.
Posthumus apparently left a "parcel" behind, which contained a copy of his ID and a note saying the pistol should go to his brother.