Man confesses to killing three

A 22-year-old former Alexandra High School pupil suspected of murdering three elderly people within a month, made a full confession before Senior Magistrate Ashin Singh in court on Thursday, reports Maritzburg Sun.

Kershwin Goldstone, who lives in Woodlands, said he was “relieved” to confess. “I want the truth to set me free,” he said.

The suspect was orphaned at a young age and allegedly abused. He lived at a Salvation Army orphanage and was later sent to Boys’ Town.

It is also alleged he is a drug addict.

Goldstone made a full confession before Singh on Thursday and appeared briefly in court on Friday with a Legal Aid lawyer. He did not apply for bail and is expected to plead guilty to three counts of murder and house robbery when next he appears in court.

Pietermaritzburg was last month rocked by a series of murders and robberies targeting elderly residents living in two CBD retirement homes – the Kenwyn Retirement Home and the Jacaranda Lodge, both in Pietermaritz Street.

In all three incidents, the killer apparently used the same modus operandi to gain access.

The pensioners found murdered were:

89-year-old Patricia Elizabeth Tugwell, who was found with her throat slit at her apartment in Jacaranda Lodge last Monday;

On July 21, a 89-year-old disabled man was found murdered at Jacaranda Lodge. He had been stabbed in the head. Electronic goods were stolen.

A week before that, a 92-yearold resident at Kenwyn Retirement Home was found dead by a cleaner. It is believed the woman had been strangled to death. A small flat-screen TV and two cell phones were taken.

Chilling details have emerged about the suspect’s brazen modus operandi, including his ability to scale high walls, climb three floors up and even being able to swing from balcony to balcony in search of his victims.

The suspect targeted his victims, believing they were all “rich white people” living in the retirement homes.

After killing his victims, he allegedly raided the apartments before helping himself to food and fleeing the scene.

He claims hunger and drug addiction drove him to commit his crimes. Items stolen were sold to buy drugs. – Caxton News Service

The suspect targeted his victims believing they were all ‘rich white people’ living in the retirement homes.