Brakpan police are investigating a trio of murders after three residents lost their lives in separate violent acts last week.

The body of well-known Brakpan resident Ken Appelcryn (55), the owner of AAS Security, was found in a vehicle in a veld following a burglary at a bottle store in Maryvlei early last Wednesday morning.

He was fatally shot after responding to the incident, during which liquor and other valuables were stolen.

According to Brakpan SAPS spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad, police were notified of a burglary in progress at around 02:20 and proceeded to the scene along Lemmer Road.

At the store, the responding officer found a security guard who summoned him to an open veld in Withok Estates.

“At the secondary scene in the veld, the officer found one male lying on the ground and another in a vehicle,” said Van Staad. “He saw the male (Appelcryn) lying motionless in the car.”

The man on the ground was disarmed of a gun which was concealed in his pants. He sustained multiple wounds to his upper body, was treated on scene and taken to the Far East Rand Hospital under police guard. Appelcryn was declared dead on the scene.

Van Staad told Brakpan Herald eight cartridges were found, as well as bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.

The suspect’s firearm contained five rounds of ammunition. Later that day, at around 18:20, a robbery at a house along 20th Road in Denneoord was reported to the police.

The 53-year-old female homeowner’s throat was cut during the incident. She was transported via ambulance to the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakani before police arrived, but died the following day.

Arriving on the scene, the responding officer was met by a tenant of the property.

“He mentioned that the owner of the house had been rushed to the hospital,” said van Staad.

“He ushered the officer to the main bedroom where the victim was lying in a pool of blood. Two bedrooms in the house were ransacked and wardrobes were wide open with blood stains on the handles. Upon investigation, the sliding door leading to the back of the house was open, also with blood stains on the floor and handles. Outside, the fence and electric fence were cut and it appears entry was gained through there. An okapi knife with a brown handl, with blood stains, was found in the grass near the fence.”

Van Staad explained the victim’s son (28) told police he had last seen his mother at about 11:30 that morning.

“He further stated he received a call from someone who informed him there was somebody around the premises at about 12:45. He came and observed by driving around the house but did not enter the dwelling. He alleged that he then had to go to Boksburg to meet up with his wife.”

The victim’s cellphone and laptop were missing. Following her death, a police team went out and conducted a secondary investigation at the residence.

Family members and neighbours were re-interviewed and forensics were re-summoned to the scene. All cellphones were seized as exhibits.

“On Friday, the son was taken out for investigation in Daveyton where he confessed to his mother’s death,” said Van Staad.

“The relevant role players for a confession statement were summoned and he pointed out his accomplice.”

The son and his 28-year-old male accomplice were both detained during the early hours of Saturday morning.

The third murder docket of the week was opened on Sunday, when police were called to an address along Hamilton Avenue, at around 11:30. They received a report of a house robbery and upon arrival, the body of a 55-year-old man was found at the home.

“ SAPS members found a woman parked in her car outside the yard, crying,” said Van Staad.

“She alleged that her husband had been murdered and his white Nissan Navara bakkie stolen. She was attended to by paramedics. On further investigation, the body of a male was found covered with a green plastic cloth. The body had multiple injuries on the head and upper body and paramedics certified him dead on the scene.”

In addition to the vehicle, garden tools, a lawnmower, compressor, generator, cellphone, house keys and other items were stolen.

No arrests have been made in connection with this case.