Murdered SA man's son, 3, disappears
2012-10-07 16:02
Durban - The family of a South African man who was allegedly murdered by his estranged wife and her brother have expressed concern over the disappearance of his 3-year old son.
The Bangkok Post newspaper on Sunday reported that Oswald Heinrich Duvel's younger brother Hercules Duvel had said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon that the whereabouts of Duvel's 3-year-old son was unknown even to police.
"Our concern is the wellbeing of his precious son. We pray that he is well. We offer to care for him and provide for him."
The bullet riddled body of Duvel, 50, was found last Sunday next to a partially completed grave in the foothills of Saraburi province, north of Thailand's capital city of Bangkok. He was wearing only his underpants and a wristwatch.
On Thursday Thai police chief Lieutenant General Nares Nanphathote told Sapa that Duvel's ex-wife Karachin Duvel had confessed to the murder.
Hercules Duvel, 49, was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying: "We don't know where he [the boy] is. Even the police don't know," Mr Duvel said.
He said the safety of the boy was the primary concern for him and his family.
The newspaper also quoted him as saying: "We are seeking court advice for a child adoption plan."
In a statement read out at the press conference, Duvel's brother said: “We are all heartbroken and shocked by the death of our father, brother, partner and friend, Oswald.
"We cannot put in words the sorrow we feel."
Abuse
Referring to allegations reported in the Thai media that Duvel's ex-wife had abused his son, Hercules Duvel said: "It is only natural that the accused will come up with anything to defend themselves.
"The allegations of the accused while understandable are also completely unfounded. They are fighting for their lives. They need to find and propose a justification for this senseless killing."
Duvel, who was born and raised in Piet Retief, had been involved in an ongoing custody battle with his ex-wife in the Thai courts.
Nanphathote said his information was that the ex-wife had invited him to sit in her Toyota Fortuner with her mother to discuss a custody agreement.
Unbeknown to Duvel, a third person was lying behind the back seat and as they talked, he fired the three fatal shots.
Nanphathote described the man as the "new husband", but various Thai media reports have described him as being the ex-wife's brother, half brother or adopted brother. He has been identified as Surasith Pacchathepmonkol.
Hercules Duvel praised the swift work of the Thai police, but urged the media to "allow the Thai police to complete the investigation and also give the prosecutor and their defence a chance to a fair trial and find justice for Oswald, his son, his family and his friends".
Comment could not immediately obtained from the department of international relations and co-operation as to whether Duvel had obtained South African citizenship or his son, who was born in Thailand.
- SAPA
