THREE weeks have passed since the gruesome murder of Yellowwood Park resident, Graham Garlick was reported.
His body was found dumped in Umlazi along with his car, which was covered in blood splatters on Tuesday, March 7.
Montclair SAPS went to his home where they found a man, believed to be his live-in partner, cleaning the floors. The police officer grew suspicious after he noticed some blood stains on the driveway of the home.
The partner was arrested and later allegedly revealed he had hired two men to kill Garlick and instructed them to make it look like a hijacking. It is alleged he was induced by the promise of large inheritance when Garlick died.
Leaving behind no known family members, Graham’s death saddened the community, causing one man, Pastor Nick Marais to step up, as he had known him for a very long time and took charge of Graham’s burial and remembrance. “He was a quiet and reserved man.
I never knew him to have a temper or to be one to start a fight. His death came as a shock to me. It angered me knowing such evil lived in the man accused of hiring the killers.
If anyone knew Graham, they would have known of his love for nature. “He did not take many pictures of himself but had plenty of mountains and nature, it’s where he was at peace,” added Pastor Marais.
Last Friday, 24 March Pastor Marais held a public memorial at the Montclair Methodist Church for those who knew Garlick. “Although he kept to himself, people knew who Graham was and to have such a horrific death happen right on our doorstep,it touched a chord with everyone,” he said.
In light of the death and other crimes in the area, Pastor Marais encourages neighbours to take the time to get to know each other and communicate. “As the commandment said, love thy neighbour. We must stay in touch with each other, check if we are alright. We cannot live in darkness on this Earth without the love of a friend,” added Pastor Marais.
The Yellowwood Park community have started a petition to oppose against the accused of getting bail. The accused man was due to appear on court on Monday, 27 March. “These men must understand what you reap, you will sow. As a community we will not give up until justice is served.”
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