No arrests have been made in connection with the attack on an elderly farmer and his wife on their farm outside Odendaalsrus on Thursday.
Free State police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says Jan Barnard was shot dead when he entered an engine room outside the farmhouse to inspect a generator after a power failure earlier in the day. His wife Carmelia was also attacked and shot in the hip and leg when she went outside to investigate. Four men who wore balaclavas at the time are wanted in connection with the incident.
Thakeng says the robbers forced an injured Carmelia inside the house. They demanded the keys to the safe. The robbers fled the scene on foot. Two firearms, an undisclosed amount of money and cell phones were taken.
An injured Carmelia managed to crawl to her husband after the attack. She cried for help for the entire night but nobody came to her rescue. She remained by her husband’s side until the next morning when a farm worker who turned up for work, became suspicious when he saw his employers' dead dog outside the farmhouse.
Thakeng says police made use of trackers on Friday in their hunt for the suspects. He has appealed to anyone with information to contact their nearest police station. – Christal-Lize Muller
