Karsten Hammel

Karsten Hammel (1970 - 2005)

Brief overview:

Karsten (35), was bound, then stabbed and strangled to death inside his house on the De Kroon smallholdings on the 1st August 2005.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
  • Karsten's funeral was held on Friday, 5th August 2005 at 10:00am at the Good Sheppard Catholic Church in Meerhof, in the Hartebeespoort dam area.
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • A cellphone and a bankcard used to draw cash for 4 days.
• 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:

• Identity Number : 6909285215089
• Official cause of death : Unnatural causes
• In Memory of Karsten Hammel.
• I opened this blog today, 2 August 2005, in memory of my best friend Karsten Hammel. I plan on adding pictures and my memories of the time I've known Karsten, as well as post updates to the ongoing investigation as I receive information.
• Karsten Hammel, was murdered this past weekend at his home in Brits, South-Africa. The murderer/s are still at large, but I hope they get caught and brought to justice soon.
• Karsten was found on Monday, 1 August 2005, bound, stabbed and strangled with only his cellphone missing. There were blood smears in the house and it appears that the attackers dragged him through his house, before killing him in cold blood. They did not take his car or anything else of value. Why?
• Karsten's parents were originally from Germany and he was very proud of his German heritage. His parents retired and moved from Brits to Plettenberg Bay, I haven't spoke to them yet. Karsten also leaves behind Stephan, his younger brother and Katerine his younger sister (I don't think I spelled their names correctly).
• I got to know Karsten in Pretoria in the late 80's, we studied at the University of Pretoria, and lived on campus at the Taaibos hostel.
• Karsten, Ryno, Hijn, Helgard, Frank, Jan, Joannie, Mickey and Karien (I'm sure I left someone off this list) hung out during the University years. A few years after school, Karsten got married to Mickey. We all went our separate ways after University, but stayed in touch. We saw each other a few times per year, usually for birthdays or special events, or just for a braai. Many times these events involved sailing, one of Karsten favorite pastimes. His caramaran could only take four people, so he would skipper and take his friends out 3 at a time to enjoy the sailing.
• Karsten and his wife Mickey lived in Randburg, Johannesburg for a few years, where Karsten completed the accountant's obligatory clerical tour of duty. Later Karsten found an accountant position at Bosch in Brits, they moved there and lived in the house next to his parents (his parents owned this property). I'm not sure exactly how long they lived there, but they moved into his parent's beautiful house next door when his parents retired to Plettenberg.
• We flew gliders at the Whispering Wings Gliding Club in Parys together. He would usually drive from Brits to my place in Randburg Johannesburg, from where we'd travel together to Parys. We'd spend the time in the car catching up on what's been going on in our lives since we last spoke. We shared our personal, financial, professional and aviation plans for the future; we reminissed about our college years; discussed all our friends and they were up to. I miss those talks, I felt close to Karsten then. We would then spend the whole day at the airfield, worked our tails off and got to fly 2 to 3 times during the day. Each flying day ended with a good-day-of-flying beer, then the trip back home.
• When I moved to the USA in August 2002, he went flying less and less. I haven't flown a glider in 3 years. I miss those times.
• Karsten never went solo, not for a lack of trying mind you. I'm not sure why - I think Karsten's hand eye co-ordination needed a lot of practice before he could be consistant enough to be let loose on his own. He loved trying though.
• Karsten was a gentle soul and would not hurt a fly. He had a heart of gold and did not deserve this. The world is worse off without you my friend.
• from: https://karstenhammel.blogspot.com/

Links to Media articles:

• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188296301822
• http://archive.fo/AN428