Northdene man found days after his death

Update: The three suspects arrested in connection to John Arundel’s murder appeared in court yesterday, Thursday 29 May following their arrest on Tuesday 27 May.

Shaun Chiwawa (29), Reese Singh (21) and Radlyn Umavasio (24) appeared before Judge Gwendolyn Robinson at the Pinetown Magistrate Court , where their case was remanded to 5 June 2014.

Update: THE  late John Robert Arundel, born 21 November 1950 and murdered in his Northdene home on 23 May 2014 was father to Carrie Ann and Linda Lee.

Carrie Ann now lives in Sydney, Australia with her daughter while Linda Lee lives in Gauteng with her son.

John is also survived by his brother, Reg and his wife Wendy who live in Durban. His nephew Sean also lives in Durban and his other nephew, John, his wife and daughter live in Sydney Australia.

John had lived at 829 Main Road for twenty four years and wass a member of the local Methodist Church.

During the last few years he was robbed a number of times and on two occasions prior to his murder was hospitalised in 2012 for two weeks and again in February this year for a week following savage attacks.

Initial report: SEVERAL stab wounds to the chest and neck of long time Queensburgh resident, John Arundel, led to his bleeding to death in his Main Road home last week.

Scores of police, security and medical personnel filled the road on Friday afternoon after police received a tip off from concerned neighbours who saw a suspicious van collecting scrap metal in the backyard.

The eccentric, and at times controversial man, collected all sorts of scrap, old cars and tyres, that lay in his backyard for years and in recent years the eyesore had overflowed into the railway reserve behind the house causing concern among neighbours who felt this was unsafe as this was the route used by emergency vehicles in the event of a train crash in that area.

Malvern SAPS arrived shortly after 3pm on Friday, 23 May, to find the lifeless body of the 64-year-old man lying inside the house. Closer examination of the body by both police and paramedics led to the conclusion that the man had been dead for several days when his body was discovered.

Conflicting reports as to where the body was found were given by parties that attended the scene, one saying he was found in a passage while the other saying he was found in his bedroom.

After interviewing several people in close proximity to the house, police ascertained that the man had last been seen outside his house on Tuesday afternoon although others claim to have seen him on Thursday.

Moseley Neighbourhood Watch (MNW) declined to comment on the matter saying it is now an investigation.

“We can confirm that a MNW patroller attended the scene on Friday but MNW cannot comment further on this unfortunate incident to give the Malvern SAPS the time to investigate and follow up on leads that they may have. MNW and all residents would like to extend its condolences to the Arundel family,” said Darrel Rawlins, communications officer for MNW.

Thulani Zwane, KZN SAPS provincial spokesman, confirmed that a case of murder had been opened. ” A case of murder has been opened, the motive of the killing is unknown at this point and no arrests have yet been made but investigations are underway.”

It is also alleged that a Ford Bantam bakkie belonging to the victim is missing from the property.

Over the past few years Mr Arundel had been subjected to a number of robberies and beating, one of which ending with him being hospitalised

Anyone with information about the murder and the missing bakkie can call Malvern SAPS detectives on (031) 4899624/4899629 or crime stop on 0860010111.