By Barry Bateman
Three gunshots at point-blank range on Friday brought Jose Couto's attempt to fend off armed attackers in his home to a sudden end.
Just before midnight on the fateful day, two suspects threw the 67-year-old Doornpoort businessperson to the ground and murdered him before heading to the main bedroom to deal with his panic-stricken wife Stella, 59.
Stella had been leaning against the bedroom door as one of the attackers fired three bullets though it, narrowly missing her head.
"They kicked the door and then everything went quiet, so I relaxed. Then they barged against the door and knocked me to the ground. I thought they were going to rape me," she said.
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Police recovered nine bullet casings in the home.
Stella suspects a painter hired to help her husband give their home in Gambry Street a new lick of paint was involved.
"The painter started some time ago and finished the job on Thursday," she said.
"He was a loving husband, we were always together and he loved his grandchildren."
Staring at his picture, she broke down.
"He was so special this man. His beautiful smile; he was a beautiful person.
"Before we met I was a widow and I said I was never going to marry again. But the first time I saw him 11 years ago we just looked at each other and it happened.
"We were so happy together; he always cared for me and was home on time. It was a relationship that every home dreams of," she said.
Couto's son Jose said he received a call from an uncle just after midnight telling him that his father had been murdered.
Jose said his father and stepmother retired to bed at about 11:30pm.
"My father was under a lot of stress because of work so he talked in his sleep.
"Mom woke up to him saying 'no, my love,' thinking it was a dream.
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