One Suspect in Hennenman Farm Murder in Court, Second Dies in Jail

The first of four suspects arrested for the murder of Free State farmer Pieter Hills last week appeared in Hennenman Magistrates Court today, and the police said more arrests were imminent. One of the suspects died by suicide in jail over the weekend, they said.

Tshidiso Patrick Bochedi (36) appeared in court briefly today on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and house robbery, and the case was postponed to 16 November. The second suspect is to appear on Wednesday. A third suspect reportedly died by suicide while in police custody by hanging himself in his cell.

Pieter Hills (56) and his son Eddie (26) were reportedly attacked on their farm early on 6 November. The father was fatally shot, while his son was badly stabbed and taken to hospital in Welkom in critical condition. (He has since apparently been transferred to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.) The police arrested four suspects shortly afterwards. One of them, a woman, was released because she could not be positively linked to the crime.

“Investigation continues and more arrests are imminent,” the police said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

According to Netwerk24, a source informed them that one of the suspects had worked for the Hill family for many years, and had allegedly distracted the dogs so that the suspects could gain entrance to the home.

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