Manse murder: Investigation continues
2013-03-04 18:57
Bloemfontein - Two men appeared in the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the murder of a Free State clergyman.
The case against the clergyman's son, Martin Brits, 28, and an alleged accomplice, Elliot Mhlambi, 41, was postponed to 17 April for further investigation.
The two men face charges relating to the murder of Dutch Reformed Church reverend Willem Brits, 60, in Harrismith in November last year.
His future son-in-law Gerhard Vermeulen, 25, was also killed in the attack, in the reverend's home. The cleric was in the living room with his wife, his son Martin, and Vermeulen, when intruders entered.
The assailants locked Martin Brits in the bathroom. He was not hurt.
Vermeulen was shot in the head and died on the scene. The reverend was wounded. He was taken to hospital where he died.
His 59-year-old wife was also taken to hospital and treated for injuries.
Mhlambi was arrested when police apparently found him walking on the N3 in bloodied clothes. He was found in possession of five cellphones and an unlicensed firearm.
One of the phones belonged to the Brits family.
Martin Brits, the murdered clergyman's adoptive son, was arrested after a lengthy police interrogation.
- SAPA
