MAN ARRESTED IN UJ GAY PROFESSOR MURDER
In what could be a breakthrough, a man has been arrested in connection with the latest murder that may be linked to the string of murders of gay men in Gauteng.
On Thursday morning it was revealed that a ninth gay man, 47-year-old Dr Carl Mischke, had been murdered in his Norwood home on the weekend.
His naked body was found face down in bed on Monday. He had been stabbed multiple times. The killing may be related to a suspected gang that has been preying on gay men.
It is believed that Mischke, who was a law professor at the University of Johannesburg, invited his killer or killers into his home, as appears to have been the case in the other attacks.
This afternoon, police told Eye Witness News that a 29-year-old man had been arrested in Kempton Park. He was reportedly found in possession of items belonging to Mischke.
Police are now looking for one or more accomplices and are continuing to investigate the possibility that the suspects are part of the gang that may have killed eight other gay men over the last three years.
Also on Thursday, three other suspects accused of killing Orange Grove resident Barney Van Heerden (39) in 2011 appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Police believe that Maxwell Nyathi, Mthokozisi Ndlovu and Themba Maseko may also be part of the gang and could be linked to the other gay murders.
Van Heerden (39) was found dead in his home. He had been tied up and appeared to have been strangled. There was no sign of forced entry.
According to Angus MacArthur, Van Heerden’s close friend, a trial date for the three was finally set for 30 September. The case was also moved to the South Gauteng High Court.
In addition to the nine murders in Gauteng, two gay men have also been killed in Cape Town under similar circumstances.
In January, Graham Collop (50) was found dead in his ransacked flat in Plumstead, while in March, Graham Flax (65) was killed in his Sea Point apartment building.
Gay men have been warned to be extremely wary of who they allow into their homes, especially strangers that they meet through social media and online dating sites and apps.
I am no supporter of our police, but I must say thank you for this speedy action.
Guys shoot me down for this but what makes this such a special case? WITH ALL DUE RESPECT to the victims, their families, loved ones and friends: we want equal rights, not special rights….. so why should the investigation of a gay murder get extra attention? No offence but really….. Dawie Nel of OUT in Pretoria?
Uhm…Are you for real? Potential serial killer??
We are entitled to be protected and safe, like every other citizen. I agree, we should not expect special treatment; but as a citizen I want to see our police react as fast and effective as possible.
All murder victims should get special attention. That said, serial killers tend to attract ‘special attention’ because it becomes part of future crime prevention.