Woman shot, man arrested

A WOMAN in her sixties is recovering at a local hospital after her husband allegedly tried to run over her with his car and then shot her.

The incident took place on Lawrence Drive, Berea West, opposite the Berea West Junior School in Durban.

It is alleged that during the incident, the man crashed into a precast concrete fence.

He then jumped out of his vehicle, drew a pistol and fired several shots at her.

He then fled.

A witness said: “We were busy in the store across the street when we heard a commotion outside. I didn’t think anything of it. I just thought someone was driving fast.

“Then, when we heard gunshots, I thought it was the children at the school playing with fireworks.

“When I saw people running up the road, I went outside and saw people crowded around a woman on the ground.

“She was covered in blood. You could see she was shot in multiple places, especially her chest. The paramedics were trying to stabilise her as the crowd grew bigger.

“I also noticed where the car had smashed into the fence and there was blood all over the floor.

“The people said her husband chased her with the car, tried to knock her and when she didn’t die, he shot her five times. He then drove away leaving her on the ground.

“It’s so shocking to witness something like this because you normally only hear about it.

“This story is especially sad because they are an older couple.

“I wonder what could have prompted her husband to do such a thing to her,” said the witness.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KZN SAPS spokesperson, said, “Police have arrested a suspect after he shot and injured a woman, believed to be his wife, in Westville on Monday afternoon.

“Reports indicate that the woman was walking on Lawrence Drive in Berea West when the suspect attempted to run her over with his vehicle.

“It was further reported that having failed to hit her with a car, the suspect alighted from his vehicle and fired several shots at the victim before speeding off.

“The woman survived the shooting and was rushed to hospital for immediate medical attention.

“Police responded swiftly. Through quick information sharing, the suspect's vehicle was intercepted in Pietermaritzburg and he was arrested.

“He will appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on May 17, where he will face a charge of attempted murder,” said Netshiunda.