Patricia 'Paddy' Orpen

Patricia 'Paddy' Orpen (1942 - 2020)

Brief overview:

Patricia (78), who lived alone, was found murdered in her bedroom at her farm Morgenson, in Cradock, on Monday 4th May 2020. Patricia's daughter, Jacqui Murray, had been unable to reach her. She found her mother's bloodied body with multiple injuries laying on the bed around 11h00.

Later that night, a security guard from CDK discovered a vehicle on fire in a forest area 5 kilometres from the farm, and the police were summoned. It was later uncovered that the bakkie belonged to Patricia.

According to police spokesperson, Captain Lariaan Jonker, the local police questioned a man, but no one has been arrested yet.

On 27th June 2020, a 42-year-old suspect was arrested in Cradock for Paddy's murder. Brig. Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said he is believed to be Paddy's gardener. Kinana said the suspect is expected to appear in the local magistrate's court on Monday on charges of murder and malicious damage to property.

It should be noted that Patricia was murdered during the Covid-19 pandemic, when South Africa was on Level-4 lockdown regulations, with strict curfews.

• http://archive.is/obOns
• http://archive.is/vVEki

Update 16/04/2021: Themba Sindaphi (42), was on found guilty of robbery and murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
  • 04/05/2020
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • Patricia's bakkie (ute) and handbag was stolen.
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
  • 1
• Arrests
  • 28/06/2020
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • 42, Paddy's gardener, Themba Sindaphi
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • To appear 29th June 2020
  • 16/04/2021 - found guilty of robbery and murder, sentenced to life imprisonment.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.is/5qIhO
• https://archive.is/BUjjb
• http://archive.is/YGotN
• http://archive.is/fuMIM
• https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/weekend-post-south-africa/...
• http://archive.is/w8EMl
• http://archive.is/IxXfi
• http://archive.is/BjFOF
• http://archive.is/9xCtO
• https://www.facebook.com/KomaniKarooExpress/posts/3154481131240703