Weekly Mail Reporter
FORMER security policeman Michael Bellingan has been charged with the murder of his first wife, Janine Bellingan, acting Transvaal attorney general Chris Human said on Thursday.
He said extradition proceedings would be launched against Bellingan if he failed to return to South Africa of his own accord. It was also possible Bellingan would face other charges, Human said.
Bellingan emigrated to New Zealand three months ago after an inquest found prima facie evidence that he was responsible for his wifes death. Following a Weekly Mail & Guardian expose, Bellingan became the subject of an investigation by New Zealand authorities into whether he falsified information on his visa application.
Janine Bellingan (35) was found bludgeoned to death in the couples Johannesburg home in September 1991 after she had threatened to reveal details of Bellingans covert activities as a security policeman, including an alleged scam to defraud the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.
He was discharged from the police last year on medical grounds.
When last interviewed by the Mail, Bellingan — whose exact whereabouts is unknown — said he would be visiting South Africa this month on business and claimed he had nothing to fear from judicial authorities.
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