Pregnant woman hacked to death in her sleep at luxury resort in South Africa
A pregnant woman has been stabbed to death in a horrifying attack while on holiday with her husband celebrating her birthday.
Kari Turner, 31, was attacked at the luxury Hluleka Nature Reserve on South Africa’s coastline, 400km southwest of Durban, at about 3am on Tuesday, local media reports.
Her husband Matthew Turner, 33, was also stabbed but managed to survive the attack and remains in hospital in ICU with severe upper-body injuries, according to police.
The couple, both South African nationals, were found in their private chalet at the resort with multiple stab wounds, News 24 reported.
Police spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena said neighbours heard “shouting and a struggle”. One neighbour went to check on the couple and found Ms Turner’s body and Mr Turner badly injured.
The couple’s two-year-old son was uninjured and located in his cot.
Ian Crouch, Ms Turner’s brother, spoke with Mr Turner in hospital who told him there were two intruders, Times Live reported.
"They were attacked in their sleep by two intruders. He was woken up by being stabbed in the stomach and my sister screaming as she was being stabbed at the same time by the other person," Mr Crouch told the publication.
He revealed Ms Turner was three months pregnant.
He said Mr Turner told him that he was able to fight off the attackers and chase them out of the chalet.
Captain Koena said investigations into the attack are still ongoing and that a suspect had been identified.
“It is just a matter of time to arrest the suspect,” she told Dispatch Live.
She said that there had been no forced entry into their accomodation. It is believed the couple had left doors and windows open due to the heat.
Friends and family of the couple, who lived on a farming property in Underberg, revealed their horror over the attack.
“People are not taking it very well. They were very well known and well liked by many. Everyone is really upset and traumatised,” one friend told News 24.
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