Spotlight on Sedgefield murders

KNYSNA NEWS - Two murder suspects in court today
The lifeless body of Peter Henson, a Sedgefield septuagenarian, was discovered by a member of the community this week, and two suspects were arrested within hours after the police was notified.

According to the police, the community member saw the dog of the 76-year-old man running circles around a motorcycle parked outside his house at about 22:00 on Monday 16 September, which he found unusual, and he proceeded to check on the man.

When he went into the house he discovered Henson lying on the floor, already deceased, with his hands tied behind his back and a cloth in his mouth. He immediately reported the scene to the police.

The police's investigation then led them to a residence in Smutsville, Sedgefield where they recovered stolen items and arrested two men in their late 20s.

"Further investigation by Knysna detectives reveals that the suspects entered the residence of the victim, overpowered him and tied him with the ribbon whereafter they fled with a number of personal belongings of the deceased which included a DStv decoder, a knife and personal diary of the deceased," said Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie.

The suspects were scheduled to appear in the Knysna Magistrate's Court later in the week once they have been charged.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

'Hammer killer' declared mentally unfit
Sean Kelly (50), the Sedgefield resident accused of the brutal hammer murder of his neighbour Noreen Hampson (67) outside her house in Marigold Street, Sedgefield in February this year, has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial.

During an earlier appearance, Kelly was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation and the results thereof were presented to the Knysna Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 18 September, when Magistrate Zukiswa Hans declared the accused unfit for trial as his clinical diagnosis is schizophrenia and, according to the psychiatric report, he is not able to appreciate the wrongfulness of the alleged offence.

During his bail hearing, the investigating officer Sergeant Vusumzi Xokozela testified in opposition of bail how, on 2 February at around 18:00, a neighbour heard Kelly shouting and when they went outside to inspect, saw Kelly running to Hampson's house where he started hitting Hampson who was standing on a ladder.

The neighbour immediately called the police and neighbourhood watch but, according to Xokozela's testimony, Kelly kept chasing them away with a hammer. The police had to fire rubber bullets in order to arrest him, the court heard.

According to the psychiatric report read out in court, Kelly suffers from the delusional belief that he is superior to the court's authority.

His delusions also include the belief that aliens have taken over the world misrepresenting themselves in the form of humans; that there is a large-scale conspiracy against him involving humanity and the world of the dead; and that he has been chosen to kill and reincarnate as he sees fit.

According to Kelly, he receives commands that are "sent from the East and West".

In conclusion, Hans said Kelly should be admitted to a maximum-security facility for urgent initiation and anti-psychotic treatment.

Hans postponed the matter to today (Thursday 19 September) for the regional court to make the referral and told Kelly, "You will be kept as a state patient forever or until they release you whenever you are fine."

Sean Kelly in court on Wednesday 18 September.