A Piketberg cop is set to make his first appearance in court this morning after he was arrested for shooting and killing his girlfriend in the street after an argument.
The family of Natasha Lee-Grey Booise, 30, say they watched in horror as her long-time boyfriend, Constable Richard Smith, 36, gunned her down in full view of her 11-year-old son on Sunday.
Her 43-year-old aunt, who asked not to be named, says the family is devastated by her death after they pleaded with her for years to leave the officer who was stationed at the Piketberg Magistrates’ Court.
“They have been together for a good few years now and he was always abusive, both physically and emotionally,” she said.
“They were in a long-term relationship but the family never approved because of the abuse.
“In the community he is known as Makka, and he was possessive.”
She explains on Sunday, the mom of one who worked as a supervisor at Shoprite was visited by family from Paarl and wanted to spend the day with them but Richard became enraged.
“She just wanted to spend time with her family but he stalked her and followed her in his car.
“He even took aim at her aunties before shooting her and when he shot her, her 11-year-old son was standing there,” says the aunt.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson, Grace Langa, says the incident took place at about 7pm in Main Road, Piketberg.
She explains: “An off-duty police official came from behind and he was driving his private vehicle.
“The deceased turned around and walked back to the official.
“She stood outside the driver’s door and she was seen holding the hands of the police official whilst the member was still sitting in the driver’s seat.
“The member then cocked his service pistol and he fired multiple shots in the direction of the deceased whilst she was fleeing from the member.”
Langa says Natasha was declared dead on the scene by paramedics and her body was taken to Malmesbury Forensic Pathology Services.
“The member handed himself over to the police and he was immediately arrested.”
Smith has been charged with murder and will make his first court appearance today on his 36th birthday.
Natasha’s family described her as a beautiful person who always had a smile on her face.
“We want to know why he had his service pistol if he was not on duty,” they said.
“We are very sad because of the person she was.
He was very possessive and wanted her all to himself and over the years he isolated her from the family.”