/ 17 September 2000

Teenager kills father, lover in arson attack

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Sunday

A PRETORIA teenager has been arrested after confessing to killing her father and his lover by pouring petrol on them and setting them alight as they lay asleep.

The teenager was taken into custody after the lover, Neeltjie Reese (39), gave a priest vital information about the attack as she lay dying with 100% burn wounds on her face and body, news24.co.za reported. Solly Deyzel (45) was also killed in the attack.

The girl will appear on two charges of murder and a charge of arson later this week.

Reese and her two sons, Christiaan (14) and Dewald (8), had moved into the Quagga Street house of Deyzel after his wife had left home.

The boys, their mother and Deyzel were apparently all asleep at about 1am on Saturday morning when the girl allegedly went to her father’s bedroom with a can of petrol and set them alight.

Deysel died before help could arrive, while Reese died barely five hours later.

Apart from the information given to the priest, police are also investigating death threats made against the couple.

The 14-year-old boy said everyone was asleep when he was woken up by the sound of breaking glass. He could smell petrol, and immediately afterwards heard the rush of the fuel being set alight.

A neighbour also saw the fire and ran across to Deysel’s house, where he helped to extinguish the fire by using a hose.

16