Charges dropped against Northcliff murder suspects
NORTHCLIFF- NPA drops charges against Kenneth Schroeder and Paul Mundel after a five year investigation.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped charges against two men accused of murdering two Northcliff siblings in 2008, on the eve of their trial.
The national prosecutor cited the unreliability of a key witness when they dropped the kidnapping, rape and murder charges. Unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition firearm charges were also dropped.
“After in-depth consultation with the main witness, it became apparent that she had become unreliable in her evidence against the accused,” spokesperson for the national prosecutor Phindi Louw told the media.
“As a result, there was a severe impact on the prospects of a successful prosecution. Hence, further investigations became necessary in order for us to make an informed, final decision,” Louw added.
Gary Smith and his sister Karen Buchanan were found dead by their domestic worker on March 15, 2008.
The murders were a five-year mystery which came to an end when their friends Kenneth Schroeder and Paul Mundel were arrested.
According to reports, Schroeder, his girlfriend and Mundel visited the siblings at their home on 14 March to take drugs and drink alcohol.
Later that evening, Buchanan went to her bedroom and Mundel followed her.
According to reports, while in the bedroom, Mundel “raped” Buchanan by forcing his genitals into her mouth.
When her brother went to check on her after hearing screams, he was reportedly attacked by Schroeder and Mundel.
“The accused then tied both the deceased’s hands and feet with sellotape. The deceased were also gagged. The accused then tortured the deceased by assaulting them and throwing them with darts in order to obtain the key and code to open the safe,” the indictment read.
Smith and Buchanan were shot in the head, after which the accused, together with the girlfriend, fled the scene.
It is also alleged that Schroeder’s girlfriend, who witnessed the entire incident, helped take various items from the house.
In an affidavit, Schroeder’s now ex-girlfriend said she was present when Buchanan and Smith were killed and that she approached the police because she wanted to live a clean life with her child.
The woman further alleged that a year after the killings, Mundel kidnapped and raped her for several days to intimidate her not to tell the police about the murders.
