Elderly woman survives two-hour attack

The 68-year-old victim, who lives alone in her cottage, revealed details about ordeal under the condition of anonymity in fear of reprisals. She was approached by the accused, who told the woman she was there to kill her before launching an attack, Highway Mail reported.

Steven King of Waterfall Crime Watch and Securelink said the suspect proceeded to push the victim to the ground and pulled her to the bedroom, where she was tied up with her arms and feet to the back and around her neck.

“She put a scarf in her mouth and gagged her. She then proceeded to kick and jump on her. She then tried to strangle her and tried to pull her air pipe (larynx) to break it. The victim had to fight to keep her head down. She thought she was going to die, as the suspect kept telling her, ‘today is your last day’,” King said.

He added the suspect eventually turned her around and propped her up against a cupboard and asked her for money. She allegedly then stole a laptop, R1 400, three rings and a cellphone, then fled on foot

The victim, unable to scream for help because of the throat injury, managed to free her feet and found a hammer to break windows, which alerted her neighbour, King said. The neighbour alerted the Hillcrest police and ER24. The victim has since received medical treatment and trauma counselling.

King said the suspect was arrested in Mahatma Gandhi Road after she contacted her fellow tenants, who are renting the main house from the victim, and told them to go and see if the victim was alive as, she was robbed by two men.

The tenants then asked her where she was and notified police, who went out and arrested her. The laptop, cellphone and one ring were recovered from the suspect, who is now under police custody.

– Caxton News Service