Biker rally shooting: suspect is freed
The 26-year-old man arrested after two people were shot dead at a bike rally in Hawston, has been released by police.
|||Cape Town - An alleged poacher arrested after the shooting of a police officer and the murder of her daughter and another man, is a free man.
The 26-year-old suspect was released on Tuesday without making a court appearance because there was “not enough evidence” to charge him.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut said the suspect could not be linked to the murders of Rudi Salo, 42, and Randy Burgess, 18, and the attempted murder of Lynden Julies and Colonel Rounita Burgess.
They were gunned down in their car outside the Hawston camping site, where a biker rally was being held, shortly before 2am on Sunday morning.
The suspect, who was arrested at 6.30am on Sunday, had allegedly been involved in an argument with Rudi.
An eyewitness said Rudi and the suspect, who has a child with Randy’s twin sister, never argued about perlemoen or rent, as reported by other media.
“They weren’t arguing about anything specific,” said the eyewitness.
“He was saying things to make Rudi angry. Hy wou hom uitlok vir ’n fight. (He was looking for a fight.)”
The suspect allegedly told Rudi, “Vanaand maak ek jou vrek” (Tonight I kill you), and Traut said the suspect was arrested on the basis of these threats.
However, Traut says there was not “sufficient evidence to charge him with murders and attempted murder”.
“A case of murder is being investigated and no arrests have been made,” said Traut.
He confirmed that no further suspects have been identified.
Traut also confirmed that a shot was fired in an unrelated incident inside a tent.
Burgess is said to be recovering well, after being shot four times in the head. According to sources she has opened her eyes and moved her hand.
The former suspect took to Facebook on Tuesday night to proclaim his innocence, saying: “Ek is baie dinge maar ’n moordenaar is ek nie.” ( I am many things but I’m not a murderer.)
He said even though they often argued, he loved Randy and Colonel Burgess, whom he called “mums”.
Meanwhile, bikers are planning to send Rudi off in style on Saturday, with a procession of bikers following a special hearse pulled by a trike.
The service at the Thusong Hall starts at 11am. The memorial service will be held at Sjechinah Church Hall in Hawston on Thursday at 7.30pm.
Randy’s funeral will be held St Andrews Anglican Church at 9.30am on Saturday.
Daily Voice