Publication: Sapa Issued: Johannesburg Date: 2005-09-28 Reporter: Sapa

Kebble Killers did not want Car

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-KEBBLE-LD-SCENE

Date

2005-09-28

Issued

Johannesburg

Reporter

 Sapa

 

Whoever shot and killed mining magnate Brett Kebble on Tuesday night clearly did not want to steal his luxury German car, as they left his bloodied body lying in the driver's seat.

Kebble was shot and killed in a hail of bullets around 9pm on Tuesday as he drove alone to a dinner date.

A passer-by who found his silver grey Mercedes parked halfway up the pavement, on a bridge over the main Johannesburg- Pretoria highway reported it to police as an accident.

Police spokesman Superintendent Chris Wilken confirmed that Kebble had been hit "a number of times in the upper body". It was not clear in which direction on the bridge Kebble had been driving when his car finally came to a halt half on half off the pavement.

Police and Kebble family security officials refused to divulge any further details about the shooting but it was clear from the scene that no attempt had been made to steal Kebble's vehicle.

No official, however, would comment on the possibility that the controversial businessman and art patron had been the victim of "a hit".

Kebble was recently forced to resign from JCI, Western Areas and Randgold and Exploration amid mounting controversy, pressure and alleged financial irregularities.

By 2am the police mortuary van had removed the body after forensic experts had completed their preliminary assessment of the crime scene. The scene, however, remained cordoned off and security officials attached to the Kebble family stood guard over the vehicle while arrangements were made to have it taken away.

Police had indicated earlier that it "would be hours still before the body was removed". However, it seemed that crime experts were satisfied with what they could get and gave the go-ahead to clear the scene some five hours after the shooting.

Police and security vehicles were drawn up in a tight laager around the vehicle to shield the removal of the body from press photographers.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.