A team of forensic experts has been deployed on Thursday at the Woodhill Golf Estate east of Pretoria after the murder of a resident last Friday night.
Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Officer Dave Miller confirmed this on Thursday, saying police divers had also been sent to the scene.
“No one has been taken into custody yet,” he said,
New evidence suggested that the two killers of businessman John Lyons (53) might have escaped through the electric fence near the De Villebois entrance.
Police were active at this vicinity on Thursday, working their way through a small stream in the estate.
An insider said: “The police think that they might have escaped through the stream and then through the fence.”
Questions have been raised about the whereabouts of the estate’s security guards on Friday night. A source told Rekord that there where no guards at the scene when he arrived. He also claimed to have been the first one to alert the police.
Another source said the estate had hired twenty additional guards after the murder, adding: “My understanding is that there were no guards patrolling the parameters of the estate on that night.”
Dolf Denner, tactical manager of the estate, disputed this.
“It is hogwash that no guards were on the scene. The guards patrolling the perimeters of the estate heard the screams and shots and went investigating. They were there first.”
The contract of Fidelity, one of the security firms being used by the estate, would not be renewed, said Denner. But he denied there was anything “sinister” about the move.
“Fidelity was involved with the estate for seven years and we have decided not to renew their contract. There is nothing sinister about it,” he said.
“We have asked several security companies to tender last year and Protea Coin was among them. We have decided to keep Queremic on board and Xone is going to join forces with them by the end of this month.”
The Woodhill Golf Estate has been hailed as one of the safest ones in this country.
Denner said no crime had been reported since October last year.
“But no estate is bullet-proof. The estate is large and guards can’t be everywhere. I still think it is the safest estate in the country. Residents must just be more aware of their own safety.”
Denner confirmed that an additional R6 million for security upgrades were approved last year. “We are busy implementing a high-tech security system.”
The murder house in Obeservatory Avenue had been standing empty since last week as Lyons’ wife Linda was staying with her children, Denner said.
“We are supporting them and doing the best that we can. I can, however, not give any information regarding the murder. The investigation is very sensitive.”
Also read:
Man shot and killed in upmarket Pretoria estate
More details surface in Woodhill killing
Woodhill Golf Estate mum after murder
R6 million security upgrade could not prevent murder
Police arrest Woodhill estate robbers
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