Police are investigating the mysterious murder of a Kleinvlei woman who was shot dead in her bedroom.
The body of Gail van As, 38, was discovered by her boyfriend on Monday, February 10 just after 10.30am, when he returned to their home
in Hakea Street, Somerset Heights, after an appointment.
He then alerted a neighbour, who told the Daily Voice on Thursday he had been the second person on the scene, but was too devastated to speak.
“The boyfriend was just dropped off by someone and he found her inside the house and he called me, and I was the second person there,” he says.
“I really cannot speak about this, it is too heartbreaking.”
Gail lived with her boyfriend and two sons, who were at school at the time of the murder.
RUTHLESS MURDER: Gail van As was brutally killed in her house at Kleinvlei, Eerste River
She had two tenants who are foreign nationals.
It is understood the tenants had recently been given notice.
A post containing a photograph of one of the tenants went viral on social media, claiming he was responsible for the murder, but this could not be verified.
A neighbourhood watch member, who is working closely with cops, revealed a young relative had been asleep inside the house when the murder was
committed.
“I had walked past the house just before 10am and saw that the two gates were open,” she says.
“I found it strange as the gates were never open and I closed one of them and didn’t enter the house.
“The male relative, who could not be older than 20, had been asleep inside one of the bedrooms when the incident took place.
“The boyfriend had left the house around 7am and when he returned just after 10am, he found her dead inside the bedroom.
“The pillow was also soaked in blood and it is unclear if it was used to muffle the sound of the gunshot.”
HEARTBREAKING: Woman's body was found by her berk
On Thursday, Gail’s family were not prepared to
speak, saying they were preparing for the burial,
which will take place on Saturday.
“We just have a lot of meetings and we are not prepared to speak right now, perhaps later or by tomorrow,” said one of Gail’s uncles.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Pholelwa Njara says: “A case of murder has been opened for investigation after a 38-year-old woman was shot and fatally wounded at Hakea Street, Somerset Heights, in Kleinvlei.
“According to the police reports, members attended the scene and upon their arrival, they found the body of the victim with gunshot wounds and she was declared dead due to her injuries."
Police urge anyone with information that can assist with the investigation to contact Kleinvlei police or Crime Stop 08600 10111
.