The brutal murder of 25-year-old Suzanne Quine on Sunday morning has left the community of Damsebos, Knysna, reeling in shock, and ironically ushered in August, Women’s Month, with a terrible crime against a young woman.

To make matters worse, according to her guardian Isabella Moses, Quine was six months pregnant when she was attacked.

Her eight-year-old son, Marshwin, is now motherless because of this senseless murder.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies confirmed in a statement that Knysna detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding Quine’s murder in Ward 3.

“Reports available suggest that police were dispatched to the scene at first daybreak. On arrival, the members found the victim with multiple injuries.

“She was declared deceased by paramedics on [the] scene. A murder docket was opened for further police investigation.

Motive

“The motive for this killing is yet to be established. The suspect is still at large, and the Knysna police urge the public to come forward with any information which could assist police with this investigation.

“Anyone with information may contact Captain Carolus Heyser at 044 302 6652 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111,” the statement reads.

Moses said Quine had been living with her boyfriend at the time of her untimely death. However, she was quick to debunk rumours, stating the case must be handled by the authorities.

Justice

“At this stage, we don’t really know the circumstances, how she died, and who was with her at that moment, so it would be wrong of us to speculate. The police must do their job because we want justice as soon as possible.

“As far as her [Quine’s] personality goes, I can say that she was soft-spoken, but she was also very straightforward if she was convinced something was not to her liking.

“Her son was her everything, who she loved very much. Her death is extremely hard on her sister, Thelma (22), who is her only sibling. The two of them had been staying with me and my now-deceased husband for many years after their own mother passed away.

“I consider them my own flesh and blood, and ever since I received the news [of Quine’s death] on Sunday morning, I’ve been crying non-stop as soon as I start thinking about the way she died.

“She must’ve experienced a lot of pain in her last moments,” an emotional Moses said.

Funeral

Moses told the Knysna-Plett Herald that if everything goes to plan, Quine’s funeral would be held on August 10. The time it would be undertaken had yet to be determined by the family.