Murder: Leading London artist Clinton de Menezes 43 shot dead during KZN holiday with family

-Burundi man also may be charged with other four accused black men for the murder of London artist Clinton De Menezes -- January 10 2014 at 02:44pm By NOELENE BARBEAU ------------- Four men charged with the murder of former Durban artist Clinton De Menezes are believed to have been involved in several other house robberies in the Westville area, the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court heard. Siyabonga China Khoza and Tevin Lungani Ngidi, both 23, Bongani Makhathini, 26, and Ntokozo Selby Langa, 27, might also be charged with attempted murder in another case. They are being investigated by Pinetown police on other matters. The four accused and three other black men were arrested on Tuesday last week, soon after De Menezes, 43, was killed during a house robbery. He and his family, who live in Kenya, had been visiting his friends, Simon and Amanda Malpas, at their Westville home.He was shot on New Year’s Eve trying to protect his friends, his wife, Nicola, and seven-year-old daughter Eva.The three other accused - Fisto Alimasi, 25, Mtimi Sumahili, 34, and Ngoy Assumani, 34 - appeared separately on Thursday on a charge of being in possession of stolen property. Charges were withdrawn against Sumahili and Assumani. However Fisto Alimasi, a Burundi man, may also be charged with the murder with the other four men as the SAPS submitted evidence that he was the man who had supplied the main transportation during the various robberies and the murder of Mr De Menezes. De Menezes had gone to the bathroom at the time the Malpases saw men climbing up the balcony and coming up the stairs on the opposite side.Simon was involved in a scuffle with the men while his wife, Amanda, ran inside the house to Nicola and Eva, who were sleeping.Unbeknown to Simon, De Menezes came to his aid and was in the firing line when a shot rang out.The seven men were arrested hours after the attack. The first four face charges of murder, house robbery with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Alimasi, a Burundian, now only facing a possible robbery charge, could join the other four in the dock on the murder charge, because it is believed he owns a vehicle allegedly used in the robberies linked to the four men. The four will appear in court again next week for a bail application.Prosecutor Richard Dlungwane said Alimasi’s docket would go to the director of public prosecutions for a decision.Alimasi’s Legal Aid attorney, Thobeka Bhengu, told the court she had not been aware of the move, and she had been instructed to apply for bail for her client on Thursday. Dlungwane told the court the police had received information that Alimasi was the main person providing transport for the robberies.Dlungwane said Westville police conducted an identity parade last week, and this was when they learnt the accused could be linked to other house robberies. He said they might be charged with house robbery and attempted murder for these separate cases.noelene.barbeau@inl.co.za Daily News http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kzn-murder-accused-linked-to-robberies-1.1630351#.UtGVPtLuJwg ---------- London artist Clinton de Menezes, 43, shot dead in SA protecting his family from 4 black gunmen -- Clinton De Menezes died protecting his wife Nicola Saward and daughter Eva -- UK Standard newspaper reporters: David Churchill and Simon Freeman, 11:49 7 January 2014 ( Slideshow of Mr De Menezes' extraordinary art: http://www.clintondemenezes.com/world_map_details.html http://www.clintondemenezes.com/world_map.html Bicha Gallery held an exhibition of his work shown from Jan 16-20 2013 at the London Art Fair: http://www.londonartfair.co.uk/ ) "A leading London artist was shot dead as he tackled robbers who burst into his first wedding anniversary party. The gang fled with only three mobile phones and a wallet. Police later arrested four men and recovered a 9mm pistol which they claim was the weapon used in the murder. Clinton De Menezes, 43, bundled his wife Nicola Saward and their daughter Eva, seven, into a bathroom when the robbers forced open a door. He was shot in the chest when he went to the aid of a friend who was trying to fend off one of the gunmen with a plastic chair. As Mr De Menezes lay dying his wife kissed him and then closed his eyes. A friend said she thanked him for being a loving father and husband. The distraught girl also said a tearful goodbye. The horror attack came when four thieves climbed onto a balcony during the party in Durban, South Africa. The couple, schoolfriends who got together a decade ago, had flown to Durban to celebrate their anniversary with best man Simon Malpas and his wife Amanda in Westville, miles from a township once known as the country’s murder capital. Mr De Menezes has had work exhibited in galleries across London and in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The family lived in Hanwell, west London, until last July when Ms Saward moved to Kenya with her job as a manager for oil firm Tullow. Mr Malpas described how four men forced open the door in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. He said: “We turned down the music and saw there was a man on the balcony. I ran towards him and hit him with a plastic chair.” Mr Malpas grappled with the assailants as they tried to force their way inside. Mr De Menezes hid his wife and daughter in a bathroom before coming to his aid. Mr Malpas said: “I was hanging on for dear life. Clinton must have come up behind me. I had no idea he was there ... the next thing I hear a loud bang. I don’t know how they missed me, I was standing right in front of them.” Mr Malpas’s wife told how Ms Saward closed her husband’s eyes, kissed him and thanked him for being a loving father and husband. Eva, who had been hidden in a laundry basket, also said goodbye. Fiona Des Fontaine, a pastor who presided over the couple’s wedding, was today leading his funeral in Durban. She said: “I have seen the love these two had for one another. “A year ago I had the privilege of being asked to preside over a wedding. A year later, and it is a privilege to be asked to be a part of this funeral. This is not the way this was supposed to end. I know one thing; Clinton was loved, he is loved, and this is a love that will endure.” The gang fled with three mobile phones and a wallet. Police later arrested four men and recovered a 9mm pistol which they claim was the weapon used in the murder. The killing has again thrown a spotlight on the scale of violent crime in South Africa with murders running at the rate of 50 a day. Friends in London last night held a candlelit vigil in Mr De Menezes’s memory at the Clocktower Cafe in Hanwell, owned by family friend Morna McAulay. She said: “Clinton had such genuine and generous compassion and interest in the people around him, he seemed to bring the best out in others. The world is a less colourful and warm place for his absence.” Janne Mantykoski, 41, from Hanwell, said: “The fact that he died in the way he did, protecting his friend and his family who I’m sure he thought were in danger if the burglars came in, shows the calibre of the man. “He was like family to me. He was the most incredibly warm and generous man. He always had a big laugh and smile. He was beginning to sell well in London and his career was taking off, but he still got up and moved to Kenya for his family, because his wife’s work took them there, but was never bitter about it. He always put them first.” Emma Lindsey, 39, said: “He adored his little daughter and was devoted to his family. It sounds like a cliché, but he died a hero.” She added: “They started a new chapter in their lives after a new role was created for Nicola in her company. It was supposed to be a new chapter which just makes it even more tragic.” Colleagues in London’s art world paid tribute to the “prolific, intelligent and incredibly talented” artist, whose giant World Map stands at accountancy firm PwC’s headquarters on the South Bank and whose Procession (Exodus) installation was shown at the Met. Mr De Menezes, who was born in Johannesburg, founded Alchemy Studios in South Africa before moving to London in 2007. Antonio Capelao, 44, director of Chelsea’s Bicha Gallery which exhibited his works, said: “He got himself exhibited at the Met for two years and it’s a huge achievement to be recognised by the establishment.” http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-artist-shot-dead-in-south-africa-protecting-his-family-from-gunmen-in-raid-during-wedding-anniversary-9043089.html -------------------- Dec 31 2013 - SA artist Clinton de Menezes, 43 of Nairobi Kenya was shot dead in Westville KwaZulu-Natal during holiday with his family. Westville KZN - Dec 31 2013 - It was reported in the Afrikaans-language news media that South African artist Clinton de Menezes, whose work has been exhibited in New York and London, was murdered while he was on vacation with his family at Durban, Westville, Kwa Zulu Natal. Nine black males have been arrested by the Durban SAPS. Mr de Menezes has his permanent home in Nairobi, Kenya and was in South Africa for a two-week Christmas holiday with wife Nicola and daughter Eva 7 and to celebrate the couple's wedding anniversary. He was shot through his heart by a group of black men who broke into the home in Waterfall AVenue, Westville where the artist-family was staying with friends. Shortly after the murder-attack the Durban dog unit, the SAPS and the metro-cops captured four black male suspects who were waiting to hail a taxi to flee with their loot.Also confiscated was a 9mm revolver. And several hours later another five black males were arrested: three reportedly were from the Congo. One suspect reportedly is the leader of a top crime-syndicate. Boere Krisis Aksie posting. Architect Rob Meek and artist Clinton de Menezes killed in attacks 2014-01-02 South Africa. An acclaimed architect and an artist were shot dead by robbers in two new year's attacks, The Star reported on Thursday. Architect and yachtsman Rob Meek, 62, was killed on the stoep of his beach bungalow in Port St Johns, in the Eastern Cape. His wife Di told the newspaper three men wearing balaclavas approached the group of family and friends just after midnight on new year's eve. She said the men did not ask for anything before one of them shot her husband. "There was no provocation," she said, adding that the three ran off without taking anything. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Architect-artist-killed-in-attacks-20140102 Clinton de Menezes KwaZulu-Natal police said South African artist Clinton de Menezes was shot dead in Durban during a home invasion in the early hours of new year's eve. Spokesman Thulani Zwane said De Menezes, who was staying with friends in Berea West, Durban, went to help a friend prevent armed robbers from entering the house in the early hours of 31 December. The robbers fired a single shot through the sliding doors, fatally wounding the artist. They stole a cellphone, a laptop and a handbag. De Menezes left South Africa several years ago and had been living in Kenya with his wife and daughter. He had worked in private and corporate collections internationally. Zwane said paramedics declared De Menezes dead on the scene.Shortly afterwards, seven people were arrested after a case was opened at the Westville police station. "All stolen goods taken from the house were recovered from the suspects, including three cellphones and a wallet. A 9mm pistol suspected to have been used during the shooting was found, as well as a toy gun." The pistol would be sent for ballistic tests to establish whether it had been used in any crimes in the country.The seven, aged between 25 and 30, appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court later on Thursday.They have been linked to two other robberies in Westville in the past two weeks.National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the case was postponed to next Thursday for a formal bail application. - SAPA http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Architect-artist-killed-in-attacks-20140102