MBOMBELA – Mr Charles Loram (60) who was charged with culpable homicide after killing Mr Michael Stenger (30) during a botched robbery in January 2012, passed away this week.
Loram was on the waiting list for a heart transplant and passed away at his home on Tuesday. He was the owner of Sound Systems and Stenger was an employee and working on the morning of January 21 when tragedy struck. Four men who seemingly wanted to rob Sound Systems arrived there shortly after 09:00, but was interrupted by Loram who fired several shots with his two firearms. Stenger was hit by one of the bullets and died.
January 21, 2012: the day of Michael Stenger’s death
Loram took Lowvelder through the scene shortly after the incident and told the newspaper how the events had unfolded. A BMW had entered the premises of Sound Systems which is situated on the R40 towards Barberton. Loram resided in a house adjacent to the office and saw three men exiting the vehicle before entering the business. A fourth man later got out of the vehicle and pulled a balaclava over his face before entering.
Loram was alarmed and took his .38 revolver and walked towards the office. He confronted the man with the balaclava who then ran into the office. Loram could hear someone shout and walked closer to the office. Two men stormed out and he fired a shot. He fired a second shot which ricocheted off the wall.
The two men ran into an adjacent office and Loram tried to open the door, but it was wedged with a copper rod. He fired a shot through the glass panel of the door and stuck his arm through the opening and fired a fourth shot.
He could see one of the robbers holding Stenger in front of him as a human shield. He went outside and looked through the window. The robbers were standing with their backs to him and he fired a fifth shot. By then the revolver’s rounds were empty and Loram went back to the house to fetch a 9mm pistol. He went back outside and fired seven shots at the suspects who had by then exited the office and were running to the BMW. However, the gate had closed and Loram fired shots at the vehicle. The men then fled the scene on foot.
He returned to the office and saw that Stenger had been shot. He was declared dead on the scene.
Stenger’s family reacts
He had been engaged to Ms René Roestorf. She, together with Stenger’s family, were devastated and felt that Loram “had abused his power”. The were of the opinion that it wasn’t an accident shooting and that Loram didn’t react out of self defence. They further complained that Loram had told them different versions of what happened that day.
Police initially investigated a case of murder, but the docket was then sent to a state prosecutor for a decision. About a year later, the decision was made that Loram would be charged with culpable homicide. However, he was never fit to stand trial and the case was consequently postponed several times. The case will now be withdrawn.
Ms Wendy Loram brings tribute to her husband
She wrote a letter to Lowvelder in which she praised her late husband’s character and accomplishments. She started off by writing: “A lot of people probably only know Charles by the terrible tragedy which has enshrouded our lives for the past three years. The heart-breaking incident which happened during a robbery at our business, when Michael, a virtual member of our household and best friend to our son, was tragically killed. Although Charles had already been diagnosed with a serious heart condition at the time, his heart could simply not withstand the trauma and heartache that followed.”
She described Loram as a man of passion and principle, who lived his life with all his talents to serve others. “This is evident in that everything he studied, owned and was, he shared with others. As a doctoral candidate in Phd Sociology and also PHD Psychology, he was a much respected trauma reduction specialist; a pastoral and grief counsellor, a complementary healthcare practitioner and a corporate trainer. He was the deputy chairman of the local Lifeline where he also shared his expertise in counselling, knowledge of the Bible and his personal faith,” Ms Loram further wrote.
She added that he had a great passion for music and sound engineering which he turned into a business. “He was generous to a fault. His personal property was always available for the benefit of others and many well-known local musicians started their music careers practicing in whatever space he could make available. He promoted and encouraged musicians wherever possible.
“Having lost him is desperately sad. For the past three years, Charles the man had to a large degree been enshrouded in the controversy of the incident which weighed so heavy on our family’s hearts, as to feel that we might never emerge whole again. Yet it is in in his passing that there is clarity about who Charles the man really was. What we will most remember him for is the significant impact that he has made in the spiritual lives of others, since his conversion as a 15-year-old. He led many people to God, who today are themselves recognised for their own impact in changing the lives of others. He was the bravest, kindest man I ever knew.”
