DURBAN – Three people have been convicted in the KwaZulu-Natal division of the High Court in Durban, for the kidnapping and murder of renowned British botanists Dr Rodney Saunders and Dr Rachel Saunders in 2018.

Fatima Bibi Patel, Sayefudeen Aslam Del Vecchio and Musa Jackson were found guilty on charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, and two counts of murder, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara has confirmed. Del Vecchio was additionally convicted of malicious injury to property.

Kidnapping and robbery

The Saunders couple arrived in the Ngoya Forest in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, on 8 February 2018, in search of rare and unique seeds. Before travelling to the forest, they had completed filming for a BBC documentary in the Drakensberg.

They were travelling in a vehicle carrying their research equipment and camping gear when they were accosted by the accused. The couple was kidnapped and robbed of their personal belongings. The accused then gained access to the banking applications on their mobile phones and conducted numerous transactions and cash withdrawals totalling more than R700 000.

The couple were subsequently murdered. Their bodies were discovered a week later, on 14 February 2018, on the banks of the Tugela River.

Arson conviction

Del Vecchio was also convicted of setting fire to three farms belonging to Tongaat Hulett in the area between Sibaya Casino and Umdloti in September 2017, prior to the murders. This followed the company’s refusal to permit him to enter their farms. The fire caused extensive damage to sugarcane crops, resulting in estimated losses of approximately R2,3 million.

The matter has been postponed to Friday 19 June for sentencing proceedings. All three accused will remain in custody.

ALSO READ: Convicted KZN murderer receives five life sentences