Cops investigating KwaZulu-Natal 'muti' murder find second headless body

13 November 2015 - 13:50 By TMG Digital

A security guard has been arrested by police in connection with the beheaded body of a woman – the second case of its kind in KwaZulu-Natal’s Umzinto area after the discovery of a young cricketer’s headless body at the weekend. The South African Police Service said further investigations from the first case – believed to be a muti murder - led to the latest discovery.The arrest was made in the Umzinto CBD at about 13:30 yesterday‚ 12 November‚ police said in a statement today.The suspect‚ a security guard estimated to be in his late thirties‚ led police to bushes opposite the Gandhinagar where he pointed out the headless body of a woman‚ the SAPS said.“When questioned about the woman's head‚ the suspect led police to another location in the vicinity where a plastic shopping bag containing decomposed crushed bones was recovered.”The plastic bag containing what is believed to be the remains of the victim's head and the headless body were removed to the Park Rynie State Mortuary.The SAPS said: “Forensic tests will be performed to determine if the bones in the bag are indeed that of the deceased woman's head”.The suspect is being held in police custody pending his first appearance in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court on Monday‚ 16 November.Nawaaz Khan (23)‚ an intellectually impaired cricket player‚ of Gandhinagar‚ Umzinto‚ went missing on Saturday‚ 31 October. He was last seen in the company of a close friend (21) who‚ under questioning from detectives at the weekend‚ led them to a forest in neighbouring Isonti.Khan’s headless body was found lying in the bushes.“It is alleged that Khan’s friend had consulted a traditional healer who requested a human head so that he could help resolve his problems. The traditional healer and Khan’s friend lured Khan to the crime scene in Isonti. While there‚ Khan was attacked with a bush knife and beheaded.”The friend and traditional healer were arrested.Police said the second accused in the Khan case‚ Elias Sihle Mchunu‚ alias "Maak n' Plan"‚ appeared in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The case was remanded until 19 November.KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the police on the arrests in the Khan case and said. “It is totally unacceptable that such cases are continuously being reported. We urge members of the community not to follow instructions of such merciless traditional healers but to rather report them to police”. ..

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