Husband shot, killed at home

An elderly man died of fatal gunshot wounds in his home last night.

March 8, 2016

Chantelle Fourie 2 minutes read

Casper died in the main bedroom last night (7 March).

An elderly man was shot and killed in his home in Pannall Street, Mindalore at around midnight last night, 7 March.

The man was identified as Casper van der Westhuizen (68) who was gunned down in his bedroom after he tried to stop his wife from inspecting the loud noise that woke them up.

Casper had just woken when the armed robbers approached them in their bedroom.

Isabella van der Westhuizen told the News this morning that her husband was shot once when he fell to the floor, and presumably bled to death. She said that he had not even physically confronted the intruders when the shot was fired.

Casper’s neighbour and friend of 34 years, Tony de Lange, said he was a kind man who never lost his temper.

“He probably didn’t even say one mean thing to them last night. I think if they had instead told him to give over his valuables he would have gladly let them have it,” he said.

Isabella said she woke up “to the sound of them throwing out and breaking the dining room window.”

The intruders broke the dining room window with a large rock.

Three cellphones, Isabella’s ID, a stereo set and the television were stolen. This was the second time in 30 years living in Mindalore that the Van der Westhuizen family’s house was broken into. The first incident happened no more than two years ago.

Although Isabella could not identify how many suspects had entered their home, neighbours say that after they heard the gunshots they saw about four people leave in a black Audi parked in front of the house.

Isabella said Sector 9 Community Policing Forum members tried to resuscitate Casper when they arrived at the house, but to no avail. Later the police and the pathology services arrived to investigate the scene.