Anger and sadness over senseless murder of woman (84)
It is believed that Mrs Collins went to take the rubbish out, and that she was viciously hit over the head by an intruder.
The murder of Valmai Collins (84) has sent shockwaves through the seaside town of Leisure Bay.
Mrs Collins had gotten up to make tea for her husband, Dave (93) last Wednesday morning at about 7am.
When she took longer than unusual to come back with the tea, he went to look for her.
He found his wife lying in the courtyard, unconscious, with a pool of blood next to her head.
Mr Collins phoned his close friends Rod and Jeanne-Louise Kinsey, who arrived minutes later to help.
They called an ambulance and Mrs Collins was taken to Port Shepstone Regional Hospital.
It was only then that they realised there had been foul play involved after they discovered the couple’s car, TV and various other items were missing from their home.
It is believed that Mrs Collins went to take the rubbish out, and that she was viciously hit over the head by an intruder.
Sadly, Mrs Collins died in hospital the same evening.
Police spokesman Sergeant Sibu Ncane confirmed this.
“It is alleged that the woman (Mrs Collins) was outside her house when she was approached by an unknown man. He then hit her on the head and she sustained severe injuries,” he said.
“The man then took the car keys and stole her white Suzuki after taking a television and meat,” said Sgt Ncane.
Mr Collins suspects it was the same man who was seen loitering in the property next door the day before.
“He was walking around the property wielding a metal pole, and refused to leave when asked to do so,” he said.
Mr Kinsey said he managed get the registration number of the Collins’s vehicle circulated, with the help of security companies, Law Enforcement and the police.
The vehicle was tracked down via the use of street cameras and recovered in Margate by a Wolf security officer who arrested the driver.
The television and various other stolen items were found in the vehicle.
The 27-year-old man who was arrested was charged for possession of theft of motor vehicle and detained. The man was subsequently charged with murder and house robbery as well.
The man appeared in the Ramsgate Magistrate’s court last Friday and the case was postponed. He remains in police custody.
The Collins were married for 65 years, and lived on the coast for over 30 years.
They had previously lived in Gauteng.
Dave described his wife as very loving, intelligent woman and an excellent tennis player who, during her working career, was a good short-hand typist, book-keeper and secretary.
Val will be greatly missed by her husband Dave, her nieces Cindy and Carol and their families and her many dear friends.
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