Pitt’s body found
ADOLF KAURE
The body of the man wanted as a suspect in connection with the gruesome killing of Lindie Prinsloo (39) was found hanging from a rope tied to a roof beam in the garage of the house where the crime was committed.
Adam Labuschagne, a friend of Prinsloo’s, found the body of Ivan Pitt yesterday. He had also found Prinsloo’s body on Friday.
Pitt was in a relationship with Prinsloo and was reported missing after her body had been discovered with her throat slit at No 15 Harder street in Vineta, where the couple lived.
The police launched a manhunt for Pitt soon after the murder.
Pitt was said to have left the scene of the crime in a white Kia hatchback which belonged to Prinsloo.
Labuschagne said Pitt used to do carpentry and a customer of his wanted to know whether a table he had been commissioned to produce was complete.
“I drove from Walvis Bay to come and see if the item was in the garage. I obtained the keys for the garage and as I approached the house I picked up a strange smell. I thought it emanated from the dustbin and was due to the blood that was cleaned at the murder scene the other day.”
When Labuschagne opened the garage door to look for the table he saw Pitt’s body hanging from a rope.
On Sunday, Bridget Pitt, Ivan’s mother, had pleaded with her son to stop running from the police and hand himself over.
She described her son as a peaceful and nonviolent person and said she had sent him numerous text messages telling him to come home so that she could accompany him to the police station.
“I sincerely hope he does not do something stupid and complicate things further,” she said.
A photo of Pitt’s body posted on the social media page of a weekly newspaper caused a furore and infuriated his family.
That prompted the police to refuse to provide any further information about the incident.
“I understand there is a picture of the deceased being circulated already. The person who did this must know it is wrong to do that. I won’t give you any update because you already have your update,” detective Daniel Gurirab informed members of the media via the Turn Back Crime WhatsApp group created for the purpose of sharing crime-related updates.
Reports of the murder spread like wildfire over the weekend and led to calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty. An online petition is being circulated requesting President Geingob to reinstate the death penalty.
According to media reports, Prinsloo and her daughter moved to Swakopmund a year ago from Outjo, where she had founded the Have-A-Heart Foundation in 2012.
She submitted a sworn statement on 17 August in aid of Ivan Pitt’s bail application in a case of domestic violence that she had brought against him.
She told the court that Pitt was her ex-boyfriend and that they had broken up four weeks ago.
“I would like the accused to be granted bail. I do not think he is a threat to my life and went to see him in jail. He apologised and agreed to undergo anger management sessions,” she stated.
Prinsloo told the court that Pitt had not assaulted her and merely wanted to talk to her.
“When I did not want to listen he took a knife and pressed it against my throat to make me listen. I am not scared of him anymore. There are no conditions I would suggest because we still have to work together. He will not come to my house but I do not want that to be a court order. I believe that he will do what he says,” her affidavit read.
The body of the man wanted as a suspect in connection with the gruesome killing of Lindie Prinsloo (39) was found hanging from a rope tied to a roof beam in the garage of the house where the crime was committed.
Adam Labuschagne, a friend of Prinsloo’s, found the body of Ivan Pitt yesterday. He had also found Prinsloo’s body on Friday.
Pitt was in a relationship with Prinsloo and was reported missing after her body had been discovered with her throat slit at No 15 Harder street in Vineta, where the couple lived.
The police launched a manhunt for Pitt soon after the murder.
Pitt was said to have left the scene of the crime in a white Kia hatchback which belonged to Prinsloo.
Labuschagne said Pitt used to do carpentry and a customer of his wanted to know whether a table he had been commissioned to produce was complete.
“I drove from Walvis Bay to come and see if the item was in the garage. I obtained the keys for the garage and as I approached the house I picked up a strange smell. I thought it emanated from the dustbin and was due to the blood that was cleaned at the murder scene the other day.”
When Labuschagne opened the garage door to look for the table he saw Pitt’s body hanging from a rope.
On Sunday, Bridget Pitt, Ivan’s mother, had pleaded with her son to stop running from the police and hand himself over.
She described her son as a peaceful and nonviolent person and said she had sent him numerous text messages telling him to come home so that she could accompany him to the police station.
“I sincerely hope he does not do something stupid and complicate things further,” she said.
A photo of Pitt’s body posted on the social media page of a weekly newspaper caused a furore and infuriated his family.
That prompted the police to refuse to provide any further information about the incident.
“I understand there is a picture of the deceased being circulated already. The person who did this must know it is wrong to do that. I won’t give you any update because you already have your update,” detective Daniel Gurirab informed members of the media via the Turn Back Crime WhatsApp group created for the purpose of sharing crime-related updates.
Reports of the murder spread like wildfire over the weekend and led to calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty. An online petition is being circulated requesting President Geingob to reinstate the death penalty.
According to media reports, Prinsloo and her daughter moved to Swakopmund a year ago from Outjo, where she had founded the Have-A-Heart Foundation in 2012.
She submitted a sworn statement on 17 August in aid of Ivan Pitt’s bail application in a case of domestic violence that she had brought against him.
She told the court that Pitt was her ex-boyfriend and that they had broken up four weeks ago.
“I would like the accused to be granted bail. I do not think he is a threat to my life and went to see him in jail. He apologised and agreed to undergo anger management sessions,” she stated.
Prinsloo told the court that Pitt had not assaulted her and merely wanted to talk to her.
“When I did not want to listen he took a knife and pressed it against my throat to make me listen. I am not scared of him anymore. There are no conditions I would suggest because we still have to work together. He will not come to my house but I do not want that to be a court order. I believe that he will do what he says,” her affidavit read.
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