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Historical records matching Harold John Hart
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About Harold John Hart
Harold John Hart (known as John) - (1917 - 2005)
Brief overview:
John (88), and his wife Sylvia Mary Hart (84), a British couple were beaten to death in a frenzied attack on their farm Swing Gate in Muldersdrift on Friday 19th November 2005. They had lived on the farm since 1953. Daughter, Lesley Hay (53), said that Mr Hart was lured outside the homestead's electrified security fence. Here, an unknown number of thugs forced a bag over his head and attacked him with a "blunt instrument". Both of Mr Hart's arms were broken. He was killed with repeated blows to the head and chest. The couple was found two days later by a contractor.
The intruders had entered the homestead and forced Mrs Hart to open the safe. They stole jewellery, two Rolex watches, bank cards, a leather jacket, a mobile phone, cash and a firearm. A former gardener, Calvin Mohale Bopape, stood trial for the murder of the couple in the Johannesburg High Court. Other charges against him were robbery with aggravating circumstances, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Testimonies uncovered that Sylvia was found upstairs in a passage between the bathroom and the bedroom, and beaten to death with one of John's golf clubs. John was found lying outside near the cattle sheds. He had been battered to death with his walking stick.
Not even an electrified fence, burglarproofing and dogs could keep out the killers who beat an elderly couple to death at their luxury home on a smallholding in Muldersdrift, west of Johannesburg. On Thursday John Hart - described as "a real English gentleman" - celebrated his 88th birthday. Two days later, the mutilated bodies of Hart and his wife, Sylvia, 84, were found at the house. Both had been beaten to death, Sylvia apparently with a golf club, said police on Sunday.
The two had been living on Swing Gate Farm smallholding for 51 years and, according to their son, had been extremely security conscious. "My father was fanatical about security. There was electrical fencing, burglar-proofing and dogs to ensure their safety," said Paul Hart. "He didn't open the gate for just anyone. Margaret Churchill, 40, who stays in a cottage on the property, says a building contractor, who had an appointment with Hart, came to her when he found the gate locked. Body found behind a building "It was strange, because Sylvia was usually in the garden early in the morning, and John didn't sit still for a moment," said Churchill. She let him into the yard and, minutes later, the contractor shouted at her to call the police. Mrs Hart was lying in the passage. Police found her husband's body behind a building about 50m from the house.
Police spokesperson Zelda Viviers said on Sunday night that a purse, jewellery, a leather jacket and a firearm were missing from the house. Wessel Swart, chair of the Jukskei Crocodile Catchment Area's residents' association, was horrified by the attack. "How many more innocent, defenceless people have to be beaten to death before anything is done?," he said.
Brief Biography:
- Other Victims/Family
- Funeral/Memorial
- The Farm/Smallholding
- The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
Attack Details:
- Date and time of attack
- Weapons
- Items Stolen
- Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
- Torture, Gratuitous violence
- Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.
Perpetrator details:
- Number and Descriptions
- Arrests
- Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
- Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
- Trial/Conviction
Additional Biographical Information:
- ID Number : 1711175040188
- Official cause of death : Unnatural causes
- https://www.gendatabase.com/deceased-record.php?q=4798623&r=HAROLD%...
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Harold John Hart's Timeline
| 1917 |
November 17, 1917
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United Kingdom
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| 2005 |
November 18, 2005
Age 88
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Muldersdrift, West Rand, GP, South Africa
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