‘He died on my birthday’

Published Apr 2, 2013

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Former Royal Marine, Brett Williams, was beaten to death outside Kings Park Stadium on his fiancée Louise Scott’s birthday.

Speaking on Tuesday from Bishops Lydeard, in Somerset, an emotional Scott said she was devastated and in a state of disbelief over William’s brutal death.

She said Williams body was expected to arrive home on Wednesday morning – a day before his daughter celebrates her fourth birthday.

She last spoke to Williams on the morning that he was killed. He went to the rugby that afternoon.

“He called to wish me a happy birthday and told me that he loved me and our daughter Lailah very much.”

South African-born Brett, 29, died at a rugby after-party at the Sharks/Melbourne Rebels game.

He was set upon on the outer fields by five burly men whom a witness described as “a pack of dogs”.

He was surrounded, knocked to the ground and punched and kicked, causing him to die.

It was revealed by police on Tuesday that the alleged attackers have been given until Friday to surrender.

Scott said she had met Williams more than seven years ago and they had planned on getting married when they had secured better jobs.

Williams worked as a maritime security officer and was in transit in South Africa, Scott said.

“He had arrived in South Africa two days before he was killed and was due to fly back home on March 29. Because of his job he is always travelling.

“But we kept in contact daily through Skype or social networks.”

She said Williams was born in Edenvale, in Johanesburg, and had emmigrated to Liverpool with his parents some years ago.

“He was a generous man with a big heart. He had a wonderful sense of humour.

“He adored his family and would have done anything for us ...”

His parents would make the four hour drive to Somerset to receive their son’s body, Scott said. His funeral service is expected to take place next week.

Scott said she had faith in the South African justice system and said she was confident her husband’s killers would be brought to book.

“Family and friends in South Africa have been keeping me informed about developments there.

“I have no doubts that justice will be served.”

She described the past week as “traumatic”.

“I have had some quiet days and others have been an emotional rollercoaster. The hardest part has been telling Lailah she won’t be seeing her father again.

“I gave her a picture of him. She held it to her chest and said ‘daddy’s in my chest now’.”

It was revealed on Monday by Brett’s uncle, Steve Williams, that he had been robbed the day before he was killed.

Williams said his nephew had told him about the robbery during the rugby.

According to a police source, Brett was robbed at about 11pm in Florida Road on Friday night by two men armed with knives. They took $950 (R8 720), £750 (R10 496) and 8 000 Sri Lankan rupees (R581) as well as his Apple iPad and his passport.

Brett reported the incident to police the next day. He was interviewed by police at the Hotel California where he called from, but did not want to open a case because he was not going to stay long in the country.

Williams’s relatives were already outraged that the suspects had managed to secure a weekend of freedom, with their lawyers arranging for them to report to police this week.

“They have been able to sit down with their families at Easter when they have just murdered someone.

“That doesn’t sound right,” Steve Williams said.

Police spokesman, Colonel Vincent Mdunge, said today the five suspects had until Friday to hand themselves over to police through their attorney.

An arrest was meant to secure a suspect’s appearance in court, he said. The police did not want to be hasty in their investigations because of public pressure. – Additional reporting Barbara Cole and Lee Rondganger

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