Russell Walford

Russell Walford (1937 - 2010)

Brief overview:

Russell (73), a prominent craftsman and dairy farmer of Peacevale, KwaZulu-Natal, was bludgeoned to death on his farm on July 4th 2010. He was also stabbed at his house about three months previously during an armed robbery.

Russell had expressed his concern about his safety on the farm to his family including his sister, Maxine Binx, who lives in England.

When he failed to answer her call on Sunday evening, she started to worry. Knowing that her brother always returned her calls, she alerted Andrew Walford, their brother who lives in Shongweni. On Sunday morning Andrew made his way to the farm and called a neighbour to help search for his brother.

Russell's body was found under a tree at 9.30am.

Captain Thulani Zwane, from the Provincial SAPF communication unit, confirmed that Russell was attacked in his cattle shed and suffered severe head injuries caused by a blunt object.

Source: Highway Mail community paper, New Germany, and Pietermaritzburg, KwaZuluNatal- July 9 2010 Front Page – (Caxton Newspapers: not online)

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
  • Russell's wife, who now lives in London, was also attacked and shot during a robbery on the same farm five years previously and is now paralysed. It is now up to Andrew and his wife, Leanda to tend to his farm: "There is so much to do, but the neighbours have been fantastic and very helpful," said Andrew.
• 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
  • A former employee (25), was arrested on Monday in connection with the murder when police found Russell's car key's, cell phone and computer in his possession.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
  • Trust Sibanda, a Zimbabwean, killed Walford and then fled with the farmer’s cellphone and a Jeep jacket.
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Kevin Swain on Friday ordered that Sibanda not be considered for parole until he had served at least 18 years of his sentence.

Additional Biographical Information:

Links to Media articles:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20101116023729/http://www.farmitracker....
• http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2010/07/russell-walford-d...
• http://archive.fo/R7Vb1
• http://archive.fo/nrwZV
• https://archive.ph/kRa4k