Double-murder: Swiss-German yacht enthusiasts Ernst Boller 74, German wife Lilo 86 torched to death inside home

Swiss-born Ernst Boller 74 and German wife Lilo 86 torched to death in Meerensee, South Africa home: http://zululandobserver.co.za/46588/couple-burns-death-meerensee-house/ DAVE SAVIDES 7 September 2014 FOUL play (arson) is suspected after an immigrant couple burnt to death in their Meerensee home on Friday evening. The bodies of Swiss-born Erns Boller (74) and his German wife Lilo (86) were found on the floor of the lounge after firemen extinguished the blaze that destroyed most of their Mackerel street house. The couple had failed to meet friends for a 6pm dinner appointment at a waterfront restaurant and were not answering phone calls. At around 6.25pm the house alarm alerted their security company, while neighbours who smelled smoke and then saw flames summoned the fire department. They soon had the blaze under control but could not enter the house for some time as rafters continued to collapse. One victim’s body could soon be seen on the floor next to a locked sliding door and the second was discovered on the opposite side of the room shortly before 9pm. Their grey Hyundai Tuscon was missing and investigation by detectives who worked through the night and were still on scene at noon on Saturday, revealed that a number of electronic items including a flat screen TV and computer, and possibly a firearm, had been stolen. Police are following a promising lead and an early arrest is likely. ‘They were always punctual and reliable so we knew something was wrong when they failed to meet us at the restaurant,’ said friend Mike Scorer. ‘When they did not answer their cell phones we knew there was trouble.’ With no family living in South Africa, relatives overseas have been contacted. Rod Banwell, Commodore at the Zululand Yacht Club where Ernst has been a staunch member for the past 34 years said the sailing fraternity were shocked and appalled at the news. ‘They were to attend our club social party on Saturday night and Erns would have sailed with Mike Scorer on Sunday’s season opening event.’ Pic's:The house where the bodies of the Meerensee yachting couple were found after a fire gutted their home on Friday evening after suspected foul play and Erns Boller. http://zululandobserver.co.za/46588/couple-burns-death-meerensee-house/