Cape Town - Three people have been taken in for questioning after a young Cape Town man was found murdered at Monwabisi Beach, in Khayelitsha, apparently by people posing as buyers for the BMW he was advertising for sale.
Olwyn Cowley, 21, was found yesterday morning with two bullet wounds to the head, after going missing while concluding the sale on Thursday evening. He had advertised his silver BMW 325ti for sale on classifieds website Gumtree.
A note posted by his girlfriend Bianca Booysen on Thursday evening said Cowley was last seen on his way to the Shell garage in Century City, where he was to meet the potential buyers.
Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said the Violent Crimes Unit was investigating charges relating to murder, carjacking and kidnapping.
“Cowley’s motor vehicle, a silver BMW, was also recovered in the Mitchells Plain area,” he said, adding that no arrests had yet been made. Three people were however being questioned in connection with the murder.
When Weekend Argus called Cowley’s mother Surita Cowley she broke down and said she was too distraught to talk.
But
Cowley’s aunt Anita Hanekom said a big part of their family had been taken away.
“He was my twin sister’s only child. She’s very upset. We have a trauma therapist with her and she said she should rather deal with this than be put on a tranquilliser,” Hanekom said on Friday night.
She added that her sister realised something was wrong when Olwyn failed to return home on Thursday night.
“He lived with his mother. They’d just moved to Brackenfell [on Thursday]. She knew where he was at all times, even when he was staying over at a friend’s home.
“She tried to call his phone and the person kept rejecting the call. Eventually, all her calls went straight to voicemail. If Olwyn couldn’t talk he would have called soon after and let his mom know,” Hanekom said.
According to Hanekom, Olwyn had previously met one of the men he had gone to meet at the Shell garage.
“I’m not sure where he met him before. The guy asked for some time because he didn’t have money, but then called Olwyn back saying he had the money.
“Olwyn had his name and ID number, but police records show it was a fake name, although the ID number was real,” she said.
Hanekom said their whole family had lost a child.
“It’s a small family, but he was a big part of it. He was like my child. My mom only has two grandchildren; my daughter and Olwyn, now he’s gone.”
She described her nephew as friendly. He had lots of friends, enjoyed life, and “cared a lot about his mom”.
Cowley’s girlfriend was too distraught to speak on Friday.
His
boss at CNC Rout Design, Ingrid Schöfmann, described Cowley as “a sweetie pie” and said his colleagues were all shocked at the news.
“He stood in my office last night around 5pm. He was busy assembling a desk that we were busy designing. I didn’t even know he was selling his car,” she said.
Cowley’s Facebook page was on Friday flooded with “rest in peace” messages as friends learned of his death.
Van Wyk urged people selling anything to be very careful when agreeing to meet potential buyers.
- Weekend Argus