/ 19 October 2007

Man held for murder of ex-journalist

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a former crime journalist, police said on Friday.

Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson Inspector Joey Jeevan said the man was questioned on Wednesday and formally arrested on Thursday.

”He is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday,” she said.

Elaine Anderson — a former crime reporter for the Witness newspaper — was leaving church in her car last Sunday when she was confronted by two armed men in Otto’s Bluff Road.

After shooting Anderson, the men then attempted to hijack another vehicle further down the road.

The driver of the car, Patricia Kippen, had also just been to church and was shot twice in the head.

Despite being shot, Kippen, tried to drive away but drove into a ditch.

Anderson had been shot twice and was declared dead at the scene.

Kippen was rushed to hospital on a ventilator but she died shortly after arrival.

The Witness newspaper said it was ”very shocked” to hear about Anderson’s death.

”She was a very nice person and very involved in her community. She was one of those people that other people turned to for help,” an editorial staff member said at the time.

It is unclear whether the man would face charges for both the killings.

Jeevan said more arrests were expected. — Sapa