Shongweni Murder: Eight arrested

HILLCREST police have arrested eight men aged between 24 and 30 for the murder of John (72) and Hester Noble (68) who were strangled, badly beaten up and their belongings scattered all over their house in Shongweni Valley on Wednesday night.

According to Capt Thulani Zwane, KZN spokesman, “the men were arrested on Tuesday morning for two counts of murder, house robbery and receiving property suspected to be stolen. Police traced the men to the Shongweni area after an intensive investigation that continued nonstop after the murders were reported to police.

“Four of the men are linked to the murder and robbery of an elderly couple in Shongweni Valley. The remaining four men were charged for receiving property suspected to be stolen after they bought the stolen items. Stolen goods to the value of more than R60 000 were recovered from the men.

“John was found with his hands bound behind his back and his mouth was gagged with plastic. He had open wounds on his right arm. His wife was found strangled with an oxygen pipe. The men removed household items before fleeing in the victims’ grey Honda Civic. Police found the vehicle shortly after the incident in close proximity to the murders.”

Police reservist and neighbour of the couple, Dave Leslie, described the murder as the worst he had encountered.

Leslie, who owns wedding venue Stonehaven Castle in Shongweni, was the first person on the scene and said the community was shattered by the gruesome murder.

He said he was called by neighbours to investigate after the couple didn’t answer the door when the gardener and the domestic worker arrived for work.

It is believed the intruders were in the house between 9pm and 1am.

“What these people did was nasty. How can anyone torture old people like that? If they wanted to rob them they should have tied them up, taken whatever they wanted and left,” Leslie said.

Leslie described the deceased as a loving couple who went out of their way to help others.

“The couple lived alone. Their family is in Cape Town and Australia and we have notified them,” said Leslie.

The Provincial Commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni was pleased with the swift arrests as well as recovery of the stolen goods.

“I commend the residents for working so closely with police and standing behind police to deal decisively with criminality. This partnership once again demonstrates that working together we can deal a blow to crime and send a clear message to criminals that their days are numbered,” she said.

All eight men are due to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate Court on Wednesday 13 November.

The couple’s son, John Noble, wrote on Thursday from Australia on his facebook page:

“Last night both my folks were murdered in Natal. God’s peace surrounds us as a family. It does encourage me to urge everyone I know to reach out and love those around you, a gentle touch, an encouraging word and an act of kindness can reverse the ravaging violence that is gripping our country.”