Double life for three convicted of killing renowned botanists in KZN
Police said the couple were murdered a few days later, before their bodies were dumped in the uThukela River.
Three people convicted of the kidnapping, robbery and murder of renowned botanists Rodney and Rachel Saunders have each been sentenced to two life terms by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) confirmed that Safdeen Aslam Del Vecchio (46), his wife Fatima Patel (35) and Ahmed Jackson Musa were sentenced on Thursday for the murders of the couple, who were killed in February 2018.
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KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said the couple were kidnapped while collecting indigenous plants and seeds in the Ngoye Forest, near Mtunzini.
“They were robbed of their belongings, including bank cards, which the accused used to purchase various items around Durban,” said Mhlongo.
He said the couple were murdered a few days later, before their bodies were dumped in the uThukela River.
Following the couple’s disappearance, a kidnapping case was opened at Hlobane police station.
Mhlongo said Hawks investigators from the Head Office Crime Against the State unit, working alongside Crime Intelligence and Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation members, launched an intensive investigation.
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Del Vecchio and Patel were arrested on February 15, 2018, during an operation involving the Special Task Force and National Intervention Unit.
“During the arrest, their residence was searched, and police found items belonging to the deceased,” said Mhlongo.
Musa was arrested three weeks later and also charged.
The accused appeared in court on numerous occasions, with the State successfully opposing their bail applications.
Their trial began in April 2022 but experienced several delays.
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On June 19 this year, the trio were found guilty.
In addition to receiving two life sentences each for the murders, all three were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and four years for theft.
Del Vecchio received an additional five-year prison sentence for an unrelated malicious damage to property conviction.
All three were declared unfit to possess firearms, with their sentences ordered to run concurrently.
KZN Acting Hawks provincial head Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan welcomed the sentences and commended the investigation team for securing the convictions.
