Johannesburg police confirmed on Friday that kidnapped student Leigh Matthews was shot dead, a spokesperson said on Friday.
“The preliminary autopsy report said that she died as a result of gunshot wounds to her body,” Inspector Amanda Roestoff said.
She would not elaborate on where or how many times, saying this would jeopardise investigations.
“We are hoping to make a breakthrough,” Roestoff said, adding that police had completed a thorough examination of the veld in Walkerville Manor, south of Johannesburg, where a grass cutter found Matthews’s body on Wednesday.
“We have our top people investigating it,” said Roestoff.
She said that Gabriel Hall, the officer leading the investigation, was also able to consult with top murder investigator Piet Beyleveld, as the two worked in the same unit.
Matthews was kidnapped two weeks ago, a day after her 21st birthday, and in spite of her father meeting ransom demands she was murdered.
Earlier Hall said: “There have been no arrests.”
Meanwhile, messages continued to pour in on the Findleighmatthews.co.za website, with wellwishers extending their sympathies to her grieving parents and sister.
On Thursday the family launched a trust fund in their daughter’s name, with the proceeds going to the Johannesburg serious and violent crimes unit of the police. — Sapa
Police draw a blank