Three people convicted for the murder of a British couple each received double life sentences in the Durban High Court on Thursday.
Safdeen Aslam Del Vecchio, 46, his wife Fatima Bibi Patel, 35 and Ahmed Jackson Musa, 36, were found guilty and convicted for the murder of internationally-recognised botanists Rodney Saunders,73, and his wife, Rachel, 64.
Del Vecchio, Patel and Musa were each sentenced to two life imprisonments for the murder of the couple.
They were further sentenced to 15 years each for robbery with aggravating circumstances and four years imprisonment for theft.
Del Vecchio was also sentenced to five years in prison for an unrelated case of malicious damage to property.
They were all declared unfit to possess a firearm and their sentences will run concurrently.
The couple, who held dual South African and British citizenship, were kidnapped, robbed and killed in February 2018.
Image: Supplied
Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, spokesperson for the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, said the couple were kidnapped while collecting indigenous plants and seeds in the Ngoye forest, an area in Zululand.
Before travelling to the Ngoye Forest, they had completed filming for a BBC documentary in the Drakensberg.
“They were robbed of their belongings including bank cards which the accused used to purchase various items around Durban. A few days later both victims were killed and their bodies were dumped in the Uthukela River. Their bodies were later found on the river bank.”
Mhlongo said a case of kidnapping was reported at Hlobane police station.
“Hawks members from Head Office Crime Against the State working together with Crime Intelligence and Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation conducted an intensive investigation.”
He said on February 15, 2018, Del Vecchio and Patel were arrested by a team including members of the Special Task Force and National Intervention Unit.
“During the arrest, their residence was searched and police found items belonging to the deceased. Three weeks later, Musa was also arrested and charged accordingly.”
Mhlongo said the trio appeared in court several times and their bail application was successfully opposed.
He said the trial commenced in April 2022 and there were numerous delays caused by the accused. On June 19, 2026, the trio were found guilty.
Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, the Hawks acting provincial head in KwaZulu-Natal, welcomed the sentence and applauded the members for their good work.
