SA Rugby player arrested for triple axe murder
Former South African rugby player Joseph Ntshongwana appeared in court for allegedly hacking three men to death with an axe.
The triple killings are said to have been done to avenge the gang-rape and HIV-infection of his daughter.
Ntshongwana appreared in a packed Durban court but was not asked to plead to the three charges of murder, one of attempted murder and one of assault.
The former player played rugby for former Currie Cup champions the Blue Bulls but has now moved to Durban which is home to the Sharks.
One of the bodies is reported to have been decapitated and the head found in a dustbin almost 2km (1 mile) away.
Another victim's head was left hanging "by a nerve", police said.
Details of the third man killed have not been released.
"As the axe came down towards my head, I ducked and it scratched my stomach," said survivor, Khangelani Mdluli, 27, reported Cape Argus newspaper.
Police have alleged that Mr Ntshongwana stalked his victims over several days in and around townships near Durban before killing them.
The police cannot confirm that his daughter was raped, saying that may be investigated later on.
"When they pounced on him they found an axe, which we believe is the murder weapon, clothes with blood stains and a hired car that we suspect he could have used during the alleged attacks," the Sowetan newspaper quoted police spokesman Vincent Mdunge as saying.
"He will be charged formally with three counts of murder with aggravating circumstances and one of attempted murder."
Mr Ntshongwana has been remanded in police custody and is due back in court on 7 April for a bail hearing.
Former South African rugby player Joseph Ntshongwana appeared in court for allegedly hacking three men to death with an axe.
The triple killings are said to have been done to avenge the gang-rape and HIV-infection of his daughter.
Ntshongwana appreared in a packed Durban court but was not asked to plead to the three charges of murder, one of attempted murder and one of assault.
The former player played rugby for former Currie Cup champions the Blue Bulls but has now moved to Durban which is home to the Sharks.
One of the bodies is reported to have been decapitated and the head found in a dustbin almost 2km (1 mile) away.
Another victim's head was left hanging "by a nerve", police said.
Details of the third man killed have not been released.
"As the axe came down towards my head, I ducked and it scratched my stomach," said survivor, Khangelani Mdluli, 27, reported Cape Argus newspaper.
Police have alleged that Mr Ntshongwana stalked his victims over several days in and around townships near Durban before killing them.
The police cannot confirm that his daughter was raped, saying that may be investigated later on.
"When they pounced on him they found an axe, which we believe is the murder weapon, clothes with blood stains and a hired car that we suspect he could have used during the alleged attacks," the Sowetan newspaper quoted police spokesman Vincent Mdunge as saying.
"He will be charged formally with three counts of murder with aggravating circumstances and one of attempted murder."
Mr Ntshongwana has been remanded in police custody and is due back in court on 7 April for a bail hearing.
