FOLLOWING the story about bereaved families seeking justice for their loved ones in Wentworth, the provincial police have provided insight into two of the three cases.
Tersia Heslop was only 17-years-old when her body was discovered at the Ogle Road Sports Grounds on 8 August 2008.
Her mother, Colleen, was called to identify the body. She said her daughter’s entire body was black, blue and purple.
“The only thing I want to know is why. What did she do or know for the killer to take her life?” she questioned.
Provincial spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said a case for murder was opened for investigation by Wentworth SAPS.
“The case was opened after a body of a 17-year-old woman was found strangled. Two suspects, aged 33 and 39, were arrested. They appeared in court and the matter was later withdrawn,” she said.
Also read: Wentworth families of murdered children seek justice
Carmel Ward will forever be plagued by the memory of walking into a bloodied room where her son had been stabbed.
Her son, Junaid Walljee, sustained life-threatening stab injuries to the head and succumbed to his injuries 53 days later at the age of 20. The incident happened on Monday, 29 October 2018.
“They had cut his ear, beat him on the head with a blunt object and stabbed him on the head. His brain matter was all over the bed, full of blood around him. What a scene to walk into,” recalled the heartbroken mother.
Gwala confirmed that charges of house robbery and attempted murder were opened at Wentworth police station.
“On 29 October 2018 at 18:15, police received a complaint of someone attacking paramedics that were busy attending to a patient.”
“The police proceeded to the scene at Reiger Road, Wentworth and upon arrival, they were informed that an unknown suspect attacked a 20-year-old victim by stabbing him while he was asleep.”
“The suspect took clothes and fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital for medical attention. The matter is still under investigation,” she said.
