Tip-off led to Tokai teen murder breakthrough

Community tip-offs led to the arrest of three men who will appear in court tomorrow in connection with the Tokai forest murder of teenager Franziska Blöchliger.

Westlake community leader Anthea Thebus told The Times yesterday that rumours began circulating shortly after Monday's murder that a Westlake man was trying to sell an iPhone to a foreigner.

Franziska's iPhone was stolen in the attack, which took place between 3pm and 3.30pm while the 16-year-old was jogging in Lower Tokai Park. By 9pm it had been traced to Westlake.

Tokai murder timeline: What we know so far

Thebus said when police arrived, residents pointed out known criminals they suspected of being involved in trying to sell the iPhone. She said some of them had previously been in prison for crimes such as burglary and assault.

Franziska's father, Florian Blöchliger, who said yesterday police had recovered the cellphone, later described seeing his child's broken body.

"I just got back from the mortuary. You wouldn't believe what I saw," he told News24. "They hurt her so bad."

Last night, 24 hours after hundreds of people gathered for a silent walk in the forest, another march was held, by members of the Westlake community.

Singing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, women and children from the low-cost housing development were joined by neighbourhood watch members and others in walking from Steenberg Village shopping centre to the corner of Lower Tokai Park, where thousands of floral tributes have been left for Franziska. "The struggle against crime is not only the struggle of the rich community," said Thebus.

"It is our struggle, too. We are sick and tired of these criminals who live among us, and very saddened by what has happened."

Blöchliger said police had told him the suspects appearing at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court "looked good" in terms of the case. They are aged between 22 and 27.

Blöchliger said provincial police had taken over the investigation from Kirstenhof detectives and the family had increased its reward from R50000 to R100000 for information about the murder. His wife, Shireen, was devastated and taking medication. Family members were receiving counselling.