durban mother murdered
A Durban mother was murdered in alleged Islamophobic attack. Images: X/YusufAmbramjee/police

Home » Durban: Mother brutally murdered in alleged Islamophobic attack

Durban: Mother brutally murdered in alleged Islamophobic attack

Outrage has swept through SA communities after a man brutally murdered a Durban mother in front of her children in an alleged Islamophobic attack.

06-06-24 12:24
durban mother murdered
A Durban mother was murdered in alleged Islamophobic attack. Images: X/YusufAmbramjee/police

An alleged Islamophobic attacker brutally murdered a Durban mother in front of her children, sparking outrage in South African communities.

THE BRUTAL MURDER TOOK PLACE ON SUNDAY MORNING

Grayson Beare brutally stabbed Halima Hoosen-Preston, believed to be in her forties, multiple times in the attack.

Authorities believe he forced his way into her home on Hyder Road in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Beare, who is believed to be the son of a prominent South African businessman, also allegedly threatened to rape her 10-year-old daughter.

Authorities found Hoosen-Preston’s husband and son with multiple stab wounds to their bodies.

THE MAN ALLEGEDLY STABBED THE MOTHER, FATHER AND SON

ALS Paramedics found three patients with multiple stabbing wounds. Emergency dispatch immediately sent more ambulances and advanced life support paramedics to assist.

“Once triaged paramedics found that a female believed to be in her forties had sustained multiple fatal stab wounds to her body and there was nothing paramedics could do for her, and she was declared deceased on the scene.”

HE THREATNED TO RAPE THE 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

Both the son and father were in critical condition. Paramedics used multiple advanced life-support techniques to stabilize them at the scene before rushing them to a nearby hospital for urgent care.

Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said officers responded to reports of a stabbing. Upon arriving at the crime scene, they found a man in possession of a blood-stained knife.

“A woman was lying on the floor bleeding, so were two men who also had stab wounds. The woman was declared dead at the scene and the two injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital,” Netshiunda said.

IN A VIRAL VIDEO BEARE SAYS HE STABBED THEM BECAUSE THEY SUPPORTED PALESTINE

He said the motive of the violence is unknown, although a 10-year-old survivor has told the police that the suspect stated that he was stabbing them because they supported Palestine.

“The man also allegedly threatened to rape the little girl. Police investigations continue.”

Meanwhile, in a video that has gone viral, Beare speaks of why he allegedly attacked the family.

BEARE APPEARED IN COURT, AND THE JUDGE ADJOURNED THE CASE FOR A MENTAL ASSESSMENT

When asked why he allegedly killed an innocent person, he said, “She is not totally innocent,” and added that Hoosen-Preston “and her family thought it was entertaining that my cousins were killed in Israel.”

Beare appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning. The court adjourned the case against Beare to 11 June for a mental assessment and bail consideration.

Julian Beare, the managing director of Beare Holdings, allegedly adopted the accused, Beare​.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) expressed its outrage over the murder.

THE SENSELESS MURDER AND ATTACK HAVE OUTRAGED COMMUNITIES

“This is a tragic event and our hearts and prayers go out to the affected family.

“We ask that this matter be investigated thoroughly by the judicial system, and that the investigations and legal processes be allowed to take their course,”

they say.

They furthermore said in this highly charged environment, they call for calm from all communities so that justice can prevail.