A sick attack near the tower on Signal Hill has marked a change in small-town life.
Many fear returning to the spot known as Liggies, a sequestered area which became the site of a voyeuristic assault on Saturday night.
Officials said this was a frightening first for Newcastle. In the hours before a storm hit on Saturday evening, Alex Couper and friend, Kalinka Fick drove out and parked near the cross on Signal Hill. This was Alex’s usual hangout, a place of sanctity and peace.
“We saw the storm was coming, so we got into my car. After about 10 minutes, I saw a head through the back passenger window.”
Alex shouted a warning, but could not stop an armed man from leaping in through the open passenger door nearest to Kalinka.
“We both managed to get outside the car, but he was too close. He said he was going to kill us,” explained Alex.
The attacker was clad in a khaki overcoat and brown pants, carrying a pair of binoculars and wielding a massive sharpened knife, which Alex said was easily 30 centimetres in length.
He asked Alex and Kalinka for money, but they had none with them. “He asked ‘what do you have for me?’, and then told us to get into the back seat.”
At this point, Alex realised his options were few – if either of them attempted to flee, the other would have likely been murdered. “I decided that he wouldn’t hijack us if we were behind him in the car, and I thought we might also find another way out.”
After the attacker had Alex and Kalinka on the back seat, he shut the doors and uttered the phrase ‘get comfortable’. Little did they know how telling this would be.
Almost overcome with emotion, Alex explained how the assailant told the friends to kiss, all the while holding a knife towards them. “I realised he must be after some sexual gain.”
Between trying to offer the attacker material items in exchange for their well-being, Alex and Kalinka were forced to remove their shirts.
Rape, it is assumed, was the only thing on this voyeur’s mind. “I told the guy about my phone in the centre console, and when he looked away, I whispered to Kalinka that she should run toward the road.”
Somehow aware of their plan, the attacker became upset, locked the car’s doors and upped his demands to include Alex stripping naked. In this, Alex saw a final chance to survive.
“I pretended to strip, and told him I had to take off my shoes. I saw his knife was down, so we bumped the locks open and jumped out.
He swiped at Kalinka with the knife, but missed her.” Barefoot and panicked, Kalinka bolted for the nearest road, which was HJ van Eck Drive about 300 metres away.
In his escape, Alex fell and gashed his leg badly. With Kalinka barefoot and Alex bleeding heavily, the attacker was far quicker and closed the distance in seconds.
“We were about 60m from the road when he caught up. The storm was raging and it was wet and slippery. The guy stopped and I tried to keep him at a distance; he jabbed the knife at me a few times.”
For what felt like hours, Alex and the attacker circled each other in the rain, during which time Kalinka reached the road and flagged down a passing vehicle.
Realising the game was up, the attacker ran back towards the car. Alex paid tribute to Zuliana Harris, who stopped when she saw the topless attack victims while driving home.
“I saw the people near the road; I wasn’t sure if I should stop or not, but they ran up to me and told me to drive.” Zuliana took the pair to a safe place, and called the police for help.
Both Alex and Zuliana have since commended SAPS officials for responding within minutes, although the attacker was long gone.
Fortunately, the only items stolen were Alex’s car keys and a watch. “It’s a small price to pay for our lives. I’m blessed to be alive.”
Alex said Liggies appeared a safe, open area, but admitted he would not return without a group of people, and treats it as far more dangerous now.
Likewise, Zuliana said she encouraged all to avoid the area altogether. “I went there in the morning for a photo, and felt very uncomfortable. You can’t be free in nature and I won’t jog there anymore.”
Lizzy Arumugam, of SAPS Corporate Communications, said regular patrols were being conducted by members, and also urged residents to avoid isolated areas. If you spot a suspicious character loitering, dial 10111 or call 034 314 6156.
Even though Alex and Kalinka escaped their ordeal mostly unscathed, it’s clear that changing times change the way residents should regard crime.
“It’s like something from a horror movie happening in our town – it’s shocking.”
