Police search for leads in couple’s murder
POLICE are searching for any clues that might lead them to the killers of an elderly couple found dead in their home in Mowbray. By late yesterday police were still combing the crime scene.
Rosalie Bloch, 84, and Aubrey Jackson, 96, were the mother and step dad of educations specialist and political activist Greame Bloch. Bloch is married to former UDF activist Cheryl Carolus.
The elderly couple was found dead on Saturday morning by relatives. They were apparently murdered on Friday evening and their bodies found by Rosalie’s son Sean Bloch when he came to visit.
The police also obtained footage from a CCTV camera from a guest house on the other side of the road that might give them some clue as to who was responsible. Residents said the guest house had been burgled on three occasions.
“Detectives are probing a case of murder and house robbery following the discovery of the bodies of an elderly couple on Saturday morning. A report suggests the couple was found dead by a relative
who went to fetch them. Circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation with no arrest as yet,” police said.
Rosalie Bloch was a retired lawyer who was previously also involved in the Black Sash. The couple had been staying there for more than 20 years. The double- storey house has burglar bars on the windows but the front fence is low.
One of the residents said: “This area is fairly quiet and we are still in a state of shock over what happened. It is the first time that something like this happens here… They were kind people and my condolences goes out to the family,” he said.
Another neighbour, Sisando Ntshinga, said she did not hear anything on Friday evening. “We were awake until 2am on Saturday morning. It is very quiet here. We only know about the break-ins which happened at the guest house opposite their house. After the incidents the guest house put up an electric fence and a camera” she said.
Yesterday afternoon, police and forensics were still on the scene. Police officers stood outside the house where the crime scene was cordoned off.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said: “Law enforcement agencies must indeed leave no stone unturned to ensure the perpetrators of this heinous crime are caught and face the full might of the law. We condemn the brutal, callous and cold-blooded killing of Struggle veteran and education expert Professor Graeme Bloch’s parents.