Affair led suicide cop to shoot wife – family

Cape Town-23-02-2012 Gavin Judd the uncle of Eugene Galloway the Metro Cop who killed himself and left his wife in coma at Hospital speaks about what led to his naphews death.pic Phandulwazi Jikelo reporter Megan Baadjies

Cape Town-23-02-2012 Gavin Judd the uncle of Eugene Galloway the Metro Cop who killed himself and left his wife in coma at Hospital speaks about what led to his naphews death.pic Phandulwazi Jikelo reporter Megan Baadjies

Published Feb 24, 2012

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The family of a Metro police officer who shot his cop wife and turned the gun on himself believes an affair with a superior officer led to the tragedy.

Grieving relatives say they will now report the senior officer, whose identity is known, to the police watchdog body the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD).

Eugene Gilfellow, 30, shot his wife Michelle, 32, and then himself in the bedroom of their Mitchell’s Plain home early this month.

He died a day after the incident while Michelle is still clinging to life in a city hospital.

At the time it was widely speculated that problems in their 11-year marriage had led to the double shooting which left Michelle in a coma.

Now relatives reveal to the Daily Voice that Michelle was having an affair with a senior member at Nyanga Police Station where she works as a clerk.

Eugene’s uncle Gavin Judd says they always knew things were not good between them and the family is still coming to terms with his death.

“A week before this happened, he told us about this person at work Michelle was involved with,” he says.

“We believe the affair has been going on for three years and in the last year she moved out of their house about three times while the children would stay with him.

“We have contacted the ICD to investigate the matter because we believe this third party (senior officer) contributed to the incident.”

Gavin says they don’t believe work stress led to the shootings.

On the day of the incident, it’s believed Michelle was at their home to fetch their 11- and seven-year-old sons who were living with their father.

A neighbour claims an argument ensued between them in the master bedroom and later shots were fired.

Their children who were inside the house with Michelle’s stepsister ran out to get help.

When cops arrived, the couple was found with bullet wounds to their heads and his service pistol lying between them.

“No one has the answers to what really happened on that day,” says Gavin.

“We as the family also have questions that we will never know the answers to.

“Eugene was not an aggressive person and neither was Michelle.

“But we can say that the third party played a role in what happened.”

Gavin also admits that the two families have never seen eye to eye.

“Michelle’s father was never happy about their marriage,” explains Gavin.

“He didn’t attend their wedding and for three years he didn’t speak to her.”

He also says a feud between the families erupted after her relatives allegedly took items from the house.

“After he [Eugene] died, four of her relatives went to the house where they took some of the items,” insists Gavin.

“We reported this to the police.

“Eugene’s children always stayed with him and they are traumatised – everyday they ask questions about their mom and dad which we can’t answer.

“We just want what’s best for their children.

“She is still in a coma and we are praying for her for the sake of the kids.”

* This article was published in the Daily Voice

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