PORT ELIZABETH - BREAKTHROUGH IN RETIREMENT CENTRE MURDERS LEADS TO THE ARREST OF 5 SUSPECTS

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has hailed the sterling efforts of the Mount Road Cluster Detective Trio Task Team and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in Port Elizabeth for their incessant investigation of the double murders which took place at a retirement centre in Stella Londt Drive in Port Elizabeth.

It is alleged that on Thursday, 10 October 2019, at about 05:45, staff found two elderly women murdered in separate rooms at a Retirement Centre in Stella Londt Drive in Port Elizabeth.

It is further alleged that during the early hours of the morning, an unknown number of suspects entered the premises through an unlocked door and security gate on the upper level of the main building in the complex.

The suspects entered the first room where they confronted Ms Agnes Elaine Burns (91). She was found on the bed with her feet and hands tied and her mouth gagged. The room was ransacked. The suspects then entered another room further down the passage where they then confronted Ms Rosemary Langton (87). She, too was found with hands and feet tied and mouth gagged. Her room was also ransacked.

Police believe robbery to be the motive.  Kruger rands, elite watches, gold rings and a wedding band with a precious stone as well as other jewellery and a cellphone was taken.

The team of investigators, led by the Mount Road Cluster Detective Head, Colonel Paul Orange with the assistance of the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority worked tirelessly around the clock in an attempt to make a breakthrough.

The team worked again from 10:00 yesterday morning 17 October 2019) until this afternoon (18 Ocotober 2019). Between 01:00 and 02:00 this morning, 5 suspects (1 female and 4 males) were arrested within the Port Elizabeth area. Some of the items were recovered from a suspect in the Kuyga area. The female suspect, aged 34, is a caregiver at the retirement home and was on duty during the alleged murders.

All suspects will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 October 2019. A 30-year-old male and the female (34) will be charged for murder while the other three suspects aged 20, 27 and 33 will be appearing on charges of accessory to murder and money laundering.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Ntshinga commended the investigating team for their dedication and tireless investigation. ‘Crimes against women, children and the elderly is a priority for the South African Police Service therefore their safety is of utmost importance. We will continue to work in close collaboration with the prosecuting authority to ensure a water tight case against those arrested,’ added Lt Gen Ntshinga.