Michael John Poval

Michael John Poval (1932 - 2013)

Brief overview:

Michael (81), whose body was found in the boot of his vehicle in Bulwer, KZN on 10th August 2013. He had been stabbed in the abdomen and back when he went out to investigate a noise. A friend of Poval’s delivered a parcel to him and found the house open, with Poval nowhere in sight. The woman returned the following day and discovered the house still open and the parcel untouched. She contacted Poval’s relatives who came to the house, who discovered that Michael's second car was missing along with his cash box.

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
  • Members of the SAPS Pietermaritzburg organised crime unit spotted Ben's VW Jetta, occupied by five men, travelling along the Edendale Main Road and a chase ensued. The occupants were all arrested. They had in their possession the cash box containing R13,000, a camera, personal documents, alcohol, a laptop, and a cellphone.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • The five, aged between 17 and 35, were expected to appear in the Hlanganani Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and robbery.
  • On 29th August, a 17 year-old appeared for sentencing. Judge Philip Nkosi sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment for murder and 10 years' imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances but ordered the two terms to run concurrently.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• http://archive.is/fwl6P
• http://archive.is/IAoCC
• http://archive.is/5edNw
• https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-witness/20130813/28160...