Cops told to leave no stone unturned
LEIGH
Matthews ... news of the 21-year-old student’s murder has attracted massive media
coverage and compassion for her family.
POLICE should “leave no stone unturned” in
tracking down the killers of kidnapped student Leigh Matthews,Safety and
Security Minister Charles Nqakula instructed today (Thursday).
The young woman’s naked body was found dumped in
a field south of
Nqakula’s spokesman, Matthew Moonieya, said this
morning (Thursday) the minister’s reaction to news of the murder, which has
attracted massive media coverage, is “obviously one of shock, and compassion
for the family”.
“He has given instructions to the police force
to leave no stone unturned in bringing those responsible to book.”
Meanwhile,
She was last seen on her way to the
Matthews was reportedly shot but
Reports have included that her body had been
lying in the field for five days.
“This is pure speculation and places unnecessary
pressure on the family while they need time and space to peacefully mourn and
overcome their tragic loss,” Wilken said.
He confirmed there were wounds on the body but
would not provide further details until the post mortem was completed.
Meanwhile,
They had increased the number of guards on
campus and “already security is very visible” spokesman Taryn Proksch said.
Proksch said the entire campus was affected.
“We are a close-knit university, everyone talks
about it, obviously it affects us all,” she said.
Students and lecturers had set up a memorial for
Matthews, and candles, flowers and pictures of her had been placed at the entrance
to the reception area and students could also sign a memorial book.
Pro vice-chancellor Dolina Dowling said in a
statement: “We are devastated by this news. Our hearts go out to the Matthews
family at this time.”
A close friend and classmate of the student
tearfully said: “I am so sad, I just can’t talk about it, I can’t.”
“One cannot fathom what leads human beings to
commit such heinous crimes against one another,” Cachalia said.
Expressing condolences to her family, he said
the department would channel its energies into apprehending and prosecuting the
killers.
Earlier the ANC said the “sick” people
responsible for her death must be tracked down.
“We must find a way to deal with this and we
must be committed to weeding out these elements. We can’t unite as a nation if
these sick elements are in our midst,” said spokesman Smuts Ngonyama.
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) said it was
concerned that kidnapping for ransom added a “dangerous new dimension” to
crime.
“This sort of thing, if not nipped in the bud,
could result in the daily kidnapping of citizens in this country making a
living out of ransom or murdering,” a spokesman said.
Gareth Newham, a project co-ordinator at the
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, agreed with Ngonyama that
Matthews’ murder might affect national unity as it would make people less
willing to meet new people and go to new areas.
Those who could afford it would increase their
security measures. Others would want to buy guns, and parents would not want
their children to play in the streets.
He added the “sad outcome” of Matthews’ kidnap and
murder was that it would make kidnap a more risky option for criminal due to
the high-profile media exposure of this case.
Kidnappers would realise that victims’ families
would not heed instructions to not phone the police because they would see that
it did not help.
Matthews family said they had kept to all the
kidnappers’ demands, which included that they drop off the ransom without
involving the police. – Sapa
Leigh died from gunshot wounds
THE area
where the body of kidnap victim Leigh Matthews, inset, was found. Detectives
confirmed today (Friday) that she had been shot dead.
“The preliminary autopsy report said that she
died as a result of gunshot wounds to her body,” Inspector Amanda Roestoff
said.
She would not elaborate on where or how many
times, saying this would jeopardise investigations.
“We are hoping to make a breakthrough,” Roestoff
said, adding that police had completed a thorough examination of the veld in
Walkerville Manor, south of
“We have our top people investigating it,” said
Roestoff.
She said that Gabriel Hall, the officer leading
the investigation, was also able to consult with top murder investigator Piet
Beyleveld, as the two worked in the same unit.
Matthews was kidnapped two weeks ago, a day
after her 21st birthday, and, in spite of her father meeting ransom demands,
she was murdered.
Earlier Hall said: “There have been no arrests.”
Meanwhile, messages continued to pour in on the
www.findleighmatthews.co.za website, with well-wishers extending their
sympathies to her grieving parents and sister.
Yesterday
(Thursday) the family launched a trust fund in their daughter’s name, with the
proceeds going to the