Ongoing marriage dispute end in bloodbath
A local police detective who murdered his wife before killing himself on Friday, only recently had his service pistol returned to him, after having been declared unfit to possess a weapon by his top brass.
According to the Mhluzi SAPS, captain John Maredi was seen with his children around town before he set his murderous plans in motion.
He dropped his children, aged 13 and 8, at his Chromeville flat, before proceeding to his estranged wife’s home in Mataileni.
He arrived there around 18:30 and forced her to her bedroom where he locked them in.
Two shots were heard by a friend of Ms Thepiso Maredi, a clerk in the provincial crime intelligence unit, stationed in Middelburg.
The friend phoned the police who, had to break open the door to gain entry to the bedroom.
Both captain and Mrs Maredi was found on the floor with captain Maredi’s service pistol between them.
They were both declared dead on the scene.
According to police colleagues, the couple had a lot of problems which led to Mrs Maredi obtaining a protection order against him.
Things got so bad, that captain Maredi was declared unfit to possess a firearm at the start of 2015.
He underwent intensive psychiatric treatment, and were declared fit to possess a weapon by his employee wellness psychologist in April.
Captain Maredi is the former deputy commander of the Hawks in Nelspruit.
He was set to testify in the fraud trial of his former commander, lieutenant general Simon Mapyane, in August.
A joint memorial service has provisionally been planned for Wednesday, 09:00, at the Eric Jiyane Hall in Mhluzi.
Captain Khanyisile Zwane can be phoned on 082 462 1896 for any queries in regards to the memorial service.
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