Brother tells of farmer’s murder

Published Sep 11, 2012

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KwaZulu-Natal - The brother of a murdered Peacevale farmer recalled how he found the 73-year-old’s body lying under a tree.

Andrew Walford, who was testifying in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, found the body of Charles Walford on his smallholding on the morning of July 4, 2010.

He had been beaten and he died as a result of blunt-force injury to the head.

Nineteen-year-old Trust Sibanda, a former employee of Charles Walford, is on trial for his murder.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder and of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The State alleges that after Sibanda killed Walford, he stole his cellphone and a jacket.

He is alleged to have killed his former employer on the night of July 3, 2010.

Testifying before Judge Kevin Swain, Walford said that on the morning of July 3, he and his sister had been trying to telephone their brother, but could not get hold of him.

“My sister became worried and the next morning I drove out to his smallholding in Peacevale to check on him,” Walford said.

He explained that he found the gates locked and had to jump over to gain access to the property.

He told the court that he noticed the lights were on in his brother’s workshop and realised something was amiss.

Walford said that he called his brother’s neighbour, Simon Mosterd, to assist in trying to find his brother.

“We both walked to the bottom of the paddock and looked around, and it was then that Simon noticed something under a tree near the top of the property. When we went to investigate, we discovered that it was my brother’s body,” Walford said.

The trial continues.- Daily News

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