Basil Crouse leaves a big legacy

DETECTIVE Warrant Officer Basil Crouse has been described by his wife, Justine Larraman, as being ‘quieter than normal’ on the day he took his own life.

The well-known policeman who worked on high-profile cases such as the ATM ‘bomb ring’ in KwaZulu-Natal and the sugar cane serial killer and was instrumental in cracking the ‘shoelace’ murder case, was found by his wife hanging in an outbuilding in their Umtentweni home last Thursday.

A member of the Port Shepstone Organised Crime Unit, Basil waited for his family to go to the shops before hanging himself.

Speaking to Herald reporters from her Umtentweni home, Justine said in the months leading to his death, Basil (47) had begun to slowly to shut people out of his life.

Justine said Basil was finding it difficult to deal with being victimised at work and was unhappy about his transfer to the Southport SAPS station.

Basil had been treated in hospital for post-traumatic stress disorder late last year, and was due in court in May to face charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of an illegal firearm.

He was released on R5000 bail, but was not suspended from the unit.

She stressed that the unit had not given Basil the support he had needed during this period. “Basil was stressed, but he was seeing people to deal with it,” she said.

In a self-written letter to his commanders, Basil explained that after he returned to work in May last year, he found he wasn’t able to do anything at work. “I found the members were offish and very evasive towards me. I found it highly irregular that I was placed in a group headed by a witness for the state in my case. When I would ask to use state vehicles, I was either ignored or given an excuse which I found very strange.”

Reflecting on her last hours spent with her husband, Justine said Basil had gone to get a mole removed from his back and had visited his psychologist.

As there was no note left behind, Justine is trying to piece together information to find an answer.

She said earlier that morning Basil had sent her a message after seeing his psychologist saying, ‘I am feeling positive thus far… but just need some guidance.’

After 2pm, Justine said she and Basil sat on the bench on their veranda. They chatted about his visit to his psychologist, but she said he was quieter than normal. Basil told her about his dream of an injured woodpecker the previous night. She said it was strange as they had never discussed their dreams. He told her that he had the bird in his hand and someone told him to release it, and he did and it flew up into the trees.

She said she then left for the shops with her children.

The last time she saw Basil alive was sitting on the bench at 3.08pm on February, 20.

Next to his bed, a Bible was left open at Psalm 69, and in these verses, David complains of the great distress and trouble he was in and earnestly begs of God to relieve and succour him.

“I loved him, and I know he loved me to bits,” she said, holding back the tears.

In the days prior to his death, Basil had spoken about starting a diet, getting fit and buying a bicycle. This Saturday he would have celebrated his 48th birthday and Justine’s daughter, Sienna-Jade, her seventh birthday. They had planned to have a small braai at home to celebrate both birthdays.

Justine said Basil took his job seriously, and described Basil as having the “tenacity of a pitbull”. “He was everybody’s to-go-to person and was always willing to help anyone. If I had a problem, I wanted Basil by my side.”

“He saw a lot of bad things in his police career, and he kept certain cases close to his heart. He carried a lot of hidden demons and many burdens.”

She said Basil put on a brave face, but the real Basil was so different.

“Basil was my husband, and I will continue to defend his legacy. He leaves a big legacy behind.”

The memorial service will be held tomorrow (Friday) at the Old Apostolic Church in Port Shepstone at 11am.