The committed Hartbeesfontein Detectives effectively traced and arrested two murder and robbery accused persons in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 28 November 2023, hundreds of kilometres away in Morokweng village in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. The accused; Phillip Otto Djan (48) and Pascal Senayah (39), were arrested after a follow-up was made on information, which led the police to their (accused’s) house. During the arrest, the police recovered various stolen items that linked the duo to the murder of Marlise Bosman (39) as well as two more house robberies, which were reported in Hartbeesfontein on Friday, 24 November 2023.
The first house robbery and murder case was reported just after midnight after a 39-year-old Marlize Bosman’s body was found in her bedroom with gunshot wounds. She and her teenage daughter were in their home and sleeping, when suspects entered and allegedly shot Marlize after she tried to fight them off to protect her daughter. The suspects stole a cellular phone. Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) declared Marlize dead on the scene whereas her daughter was unharmed.
The second house robbery was reported a few minutes later at about 01:10. A 71-year-old male and his wife were asleep in their house when the suspects allegedly broke into their home. The victims were threatened with a firearm and instructed to lie down on the ground, whilst the suspects took money and jewellery, amongst others. A few shots were fired by the suspects that damaged the windows of the house.
The third and last house robbery was reported 20 minutes later at about 01:31. A 53-year-old woman (victim) was asleep in her house when she heard her dogs barking. She allegedly went outside to investigate, but ran back inside her house upon seeing an unknown man inside her yard. She locked a burglar door situated in the corridor and locked herself inside her bedroom. The suspects allegedly broke the doors open and entered the house. They threatened the woman with a firearm and robbed her of her laptop and cellular phone. Although threatened with a firearm, she was unharmed. After the incident, she realised that one of her dogs, was shot and killed during the incident.
The pair appeared before the Hartbeesfontein Magistrates’ Court yesterday, 30 November 2023, on charge of murder and three counts of house robbery. They were remanded in custody until their next appearance before the same court on Tuesday, 12 December 2023.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, condemned the incident and said the long arm of the law will not be selective nor will it be kind to those who perpetrate crime. He also commended the police for their tireless efforts that led to the arrest of the duo.
