Durban - A murderer and alleged child molester is at large in eThekwini. Glen Galley, 47, failed to appear in the Pinetown Sexual Offences Court nearly two weeks ago.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that a warrant of arrest had been issued for Galley and said on Friday that the police’s investigations were at a sensitive stage. Private investigator Brad Nathanson believes Galley is still in the Highway area.
In the past month, the tall, well-built 47-year-old blond man has given mixed messages at his court appearances, making the family of the 6-year-old girl he allegedly molested believe he is “playing some sort of game”.
The alleged crimes were committed three days after Christmas when the child, who is now 7, briefly left her grandmother’s care to buy chips in the confines of a family-friendly sports club in the Highway area.
While she was buying refreshments, Galley allegedly coaxed her to follow him. When her grandmother went looking for her, cries of “granny, granny” led her to a men’s toilet, where he allegedly attacked the grandmother. Club members came to the rescue and police arrested him.
On June 29, the day judgment was supposed to be given, Galley apologised privately to the family in the prosecutor’s office. The family rejected the apology and the verdict was delayed to amend his plea deal.
Prior to a possible prison sentence being handed down, he asked for time to find accommodation for his fiancée because she depended on a sickly father. During his next appearance the following week, Galley had a change of heart, saying he wanted to change his plea to not guilty and needed to find a new lawyer.
He was released on bail and failed to appear in court on Monday last week. On Thursday night the little girl’s grandmother said: “He said he realised his apology didn’t cut it, that it would not make any difference to his sentence. I believe him now.
“What he’s done now shows there is no apology. At one point pleading guilty, the next not guilty, it is just one of his tactics.” The woman may not be named to protect the identity of her granddaughter.
“He is dangerous. I wonder what he is getting up to while out and about?” she added. “We’ll wait and see, but I await a call from the cops to say they’ve got him.”
Glen Galley
Galley returned to South Africa from the UK after spending 13 years behind bars there for the murder of a frail 69-year-old woman, Jacqueline Martyn-Box.
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in jail, but after an appeal the sentence was reduced to 13 years.
According to Nathanson, “Britain gave him the choice - enter a rehabilitation programme in Britain, or surrender his British citizenship and return to South Africa”.
Nathanson said Galley had held dual South African-British citizenship.
“He missed a process and that process is there for a reason,” said Nathanson.
According to reports, Galley’s victim in the UK, Martyn-Box, was found dead in her flat in Surbiton, south-west London, in 2001.
She had suffered multiple injuries, including a deep wound to the neck and a substantial number of fractured ribs, bruising to her stomach and a tear to her liver consistent with kicking or stamping.
Martyn-Box had lived alone and had habitually worn gold jewellery and kept a jewellery box on her dressing table.
She also carried substantial sums of money.
Galley had worked as a driver for a minicab company and had collected the elderly woman twice for trips to local shops.
He was fired when she had complained about him failing to pay her £20 (about R350) she had lent him.
The evidence was that Galley had been seen wearing a gold necklace on the night the woman died and was also seen to have a considerable amount of money. Within the next few days, he was offering her jewellery for sale.
Some of the jewellery found in his possession belonged to Martyn-Box.
Galley has another case pending against him over the theft of a horse saddle.
Meanwhile in the current child molestation case, Galley faces charges of sexual assault on the child, common assault on the child and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm to the grandmother