The Boksburg North detectives arrested a 31-year-old man over the Morganridge pickaxe attack and robbery which left three family members fighting for their lives.
The man, who was at the time of the crime out on parole for a similar crime, was arrested on September 9 at the Boksburg Correctional Services offices in the Boksburg CBD.
Boksburg North police spokesperson Const Justice Ramaube confirmed the arrest.
Investigators received information that the suspect was at the Correctional Services offices as part of his regular visits, which forms part of his parole conditions.
The man has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, and one count of house robbery. He was scheduled to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court this week.
The Joe Slovo informal settlement man is alleged to have entered the family’s home around 10am on September 4 and attacked an 83-year-old father, his 65-year-old wife and their 32-year-old daughter.
He then allegedly helped himself to the family’s belongings, including a laptop, jewellery and other items.
He was then seen exiting the blood-soaked scene carrying a school bag containing his loot.
According to the first responder from SWS Security, he arrived to find all three bleeding family members unconscious with injuries to their heads. They were all rushed to hospital.
The father has since been discharged from the hospital, but his wife and daughter are still in hospital in a critical but stable condition, according to a police source.
It also emerged that the suspect was in 2017 convicted of robbery and for attacking someone with an axe in Jansen Park in 2016. He was sentenced to six years in prison before he was released on parole in July.
It’s alleged that the man has admitted to the police that he is responsible for the attack, but investigations continues.
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