a British couple He was brutally murdered by a gang that threw their bodies at crocodiles in South Africa, heard a court holding the investigation into the case in which three people were charged with the couple’s murder, kidnapping, robbery and robbery.
Rod Saunders, 74, and his wife Rachel, 63, were two renowned botanists who spent six months a year visiting mountains and wild forests. in search of the coveted seeds gladioli for your worldwide online business.
According to the trial, a gang beat them to death before putting them in their sleeping bags and throwing them into a crocodile-infested river, according to reports. Mirror.
Their bodies, in a state of decomposition. they were eaten by predators when fishermen pulled them out of the water days later.
Interviewed by the BBC
Rod Saunders and his wife Rachel were living in Cape Town when they took off in their Toyota Land Cruiser on February 5, 2018 with a documentary crew The world of gardenersfrom BBC TV.
They were interviewed while searching in the mountainous Drakensberg region for rare gladiolus flower seeds. After the interview, horticulturist Rod and his wife, microbiologist Rachel, headed to a remote forest campground.
After that, the couple went missing and a few months later they found their bodies, which were unrecognizable, so DNA tests were needed to confirm identities.
The court took testimony from Sayefundeen Aslam Del Vecchio, 39, his wife Bibi Fatima Patel, 28, and their tenant at the time, Mussa Ahmad Jackson, 35, who denied kidnapping, murder, robbery and theft in court, superior of Durban.
Dr Saunders and her husband Rod said they were on their way to the Ngoye Forest Reserve, 90 miles north of Durban, but there is no news.
Around February 10, the investigating officer received information that Rodney Saunders and his wife, Dr. Rachel Saunders, from Cape Town had been kidnapped from the Kwa-Zulu Natal region, according to statements made to the court.
But in court he found it Bibi Patel illegally and intentionally killed Rachel Saunders and Rodney Sanders. Receipts for items purchased with Dr. Saunders’ credit card were retrieved from Bibi Patel’s purse.
It is believed that the couple were beaten to death with a blunt instrument after being kidnapped, and their bodies were later dumped from a bridge into the river. They took their credit cards to withdraw money and shop.
Rachel, born in South Africa, was granted dual citizenship after marrying Rod, of British descent, and the couple traveled the world.or giving lectures on his passion and experience in South African gladioli.
In 1995, the couple founded Silverhill Seeds, named after their home in Silverhill Crescent, and built a successful business that worked from home and employed staff to sell their seeds around the world, according to the Mirror.
Source: Clarin
