Police Arrest 2 Stock Thieves For Brutal Murder of Brendin Horner

Two men have been arrested for the brutal murder of young farm manager Brendin Horner, whose body was found tortured and tied to a pole in the Paul Roux district, Free State, on Friday.

The police said in a statement today that the two, aged 32 and 43, were arrested yesterday at Fateng tse Ntho in Paul Roux. They will appear in the Senekal Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murder.

“Blood stained clothes and shoes were found and will be taken in for forensic tests. The two men are alleged to be stock thieves and it is suspected that the deceased could have spotted them on that fateful day.”

The police said Horner, 21, was found tied with a rope to the pole by the police at an open space situated at De Rots on Friday at about 06:30.

The Democratic Alliance welcomed the speedy response by the SAPS and hoped for an equally speedy investigation, trial and a conviction.

“Our rural communities in the Free State are being preyed upon by stock thieves and farm attackers, and this cannot go unpunished,” the DA said.

According to reports, police received a call from other farmers reporting the attack at DeRots Farm. Upon their arrival police found Horner who was declared dead on the scene with injuries to his head and face.  A knife was seized from the scene and his Toyota Hilux was later found with blood stains abandoned near Duikfontein Farm in Paul Roux.