The two accused apprehended in connection with the suspected murder of fire victim Jack van der Spuy were back in the Somerset West Magistrates Court again on Monday (5 May).
The pair were arrested in a police operation following the devastating fire at the Briza residence of the 71-year-old local businessman.
The Somerset West police responded to the blaze around 03:40 on Wednesday before last (“Man dies in Somerset West inferno”, 16 April).
Police confirmed that on their arrival firefighters discovered a body, which had yet to be formally identified as that of Van der Spuy, among the debris.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, on enquiry said an emergency call of a house alight in Louis Trichardt Street was received around 02:15.
Several firefighting crews, assisted by an incident-management team (IMT), responded and managed to extinguish the blaze around 05:00.
According to Carelse the house sustained substantial damage. He further confirmed the body of an elderly man was found in the bedroom, where he had succumbed to injuries, during a search of the property.
Local police initially opened an inquest docket and further investigation, which involved a specialised operation, led to the arrest of the two suspects in Paarl later the same day (Wednesday).
The suspects, a 44-year-old man and 36-year-old woman, were apparently found in possession of the deceased’s belongings, including his vehicle, a Ford Transit, which was traced using a tracking device.
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette’s sister publication Paarl Post reported the pair were arrested by members of the Boland K9 Unit and a reservist posing as a civilian following chaos that had ensued in a grocery store located in Main Road.
They were charged with possession of suspected stolen property.
A local police spokesperson said murder and arson charges were added based on preliminary medical findings suggesting the fire victim was already dead before the blaze, strongly indicating foul play.
The police spokesperson stated this week the pair would face further charges related to this case. Investigations have also positively linked them to other cases, including a recent incident of theft involving the looting of items from a local guesthouse.
The suspects made their first appearance in the local magistrates’ court on Tuesday 22 April.
The duo were back in the dock on Tuesday 29 April and the case was remanded to this past Monday (5 May). The suspects are expected to appear in court again on Monday 12 May, the new date to which the case was postponed. The pair remain in police custody.
