Men sentenced for Bluff teen’s murder, mastermind still at large

The Bluff teen and two of his friends were allegedly falsely accused of stealing a cellphone from the tattoo parlour in Watsonia Road, Bluff on February 24, 2017.

March 17, 2020

Nothando Mthembu 2 minutes read

Bluff teen, Cody Houghton, who died after being assaulted in a Bluff tattoo parlour.

FOLLOWING a lengthy and emotionally-draining trial, the case of Cody Houghton’s death is finally making headway. The accused, Neville van der Westhuizen, 37, and Richard Juan Elliot, 23, were convicted to 15 years behind bars last week Durban Regional Court.

The two accused were convicted on culpable homicide, assault GBH as well as kidnapping charges. The main suspect, Brandon Ashley Peterson, 37 is still on the run. A warrant of arrest has been issued.

READ: Family vows to get justice for son’s death

The Bluff teen and two of his friends were allegedly falsely accused of stealing a cellphone from a tattoo parlour in Watsonia Road, Bluff on February 24, 2017. It is alleged that the trio was kidnapped on February 24, assaulted and later released. Houghton died the following morning. He was declared dead on arrival in hospital. He died from blunt force trauma to the head. Cody was 19-years-old when he died. His two friends survived the attack.

Bluff mother in mourning, Chantal Houghton remembers her son Cody.

His mother, Chantal Houghton said that she is relieved that after three tough years, the case is finally making noticeable progress. “It has been a long three years. At the beginning I had to play a proactive role in finding witnesses and help in the gathering of evidence to help the detective on the case so that they could find my son’s killer. “While the case is not entirely over, I am relieved that some justice has been served. Now they just need to catch the mastermind behind this whole ordeal, so that our family can find closure,” she said regarding the traumatic loss of her eldest son.

READ: Toxicology report delays Bluff tattoo parlour murder case

According to Chantal, Cody was a lovely boy. “Cody always saw the good in people. He loved his friends and cars and had a special place in his heart for his two younger siblings.”

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March 17, 2020

Nothando Mthembu 2 minutes read