Police have arrested the man accused of murdering UWC student Jesse Hess and raping a 16-year-old Hanover Park teen.
Following a tip-off from the community, the 31-year-old suspect was busted in Struisbaai on Wednesday after going on the run on Monday after the teenager was attacked in her home.
In a shocking twist, Hanover Park residents have revealed that David van Boven was arrested during a raid in the area last month for Jesse’s murder, but police apparently let him go due to a lack of evidence.
Residents say Van Boven is a member of the 28s gang and had been living in Hanover Park since Jesse and her oupa Chris Lategan, 85, were killed on 30 August in their Parow home.
They say suspicions arose when he was seen hanging out with members of the Ghetto Kidz gang in September in Athsur Walk.
“They mos all used to live in a flat in Parow where they smokkel,” says a resident.
“I n die eerste week van September het hulle almal
teruggekom.
“ Daar was praat van die moord van daai kind en haar oupa en nie lank daarna nie kom die polisie vir al daai Ghettos haal.”
GEVANG: David van Boven, 31, was found in hiding in Struisbaai. Picture supplied
A source close to the family of the teen rape victim says Van Boven came to Hanover Park several months prior to Jesse’s murder.
“He was in prison and met the 16-year-old girl’s auntie on Facebook, and when he came out, they met up and she got pregnant,” says the source, who asked to remain anonymous.
“She was going to marry him in December, but then the rumours started that he was involved in Jesse’s murder.
“The police came and raided the house and took him last month, but he was again released. So the family believed the rumours were false because why would the police release him if he was guilty?”
The source says the teen’s mother was sceptical and warned Van Boven last weekend to stay away from her family.
“She told him to his face and the next day is when he raped her daughter.
“The 16-year-old was at home with her 19-year-old aunt. He attacked them, tied them up and it looked like he planned everything. He stole laptops and cellphones, too.”
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms Van Boven’s arrest and that he is a “person of interest” in the murder investigation of Jesse and her oupa.
CONFIRM: Capt. Van Wyk.
“Circumstantial evidence currently links him to the crimes. He is also positively linked to a rape and robbery of an incident which occurred on Monday in Hanover Park where a 16-year-girl was raped,” he says.
“He will appear on Friday at Athlone Magistrates’ Court on a charge of rape and robbery.”
Hanover Park residents say they are planning a mass demonstration outside court to oppose bail.