ARTICLE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTHCOAST HERALD: AN evening with family and friends ended in a terrifying nightmare for Amanzimtoti couple, Noelene Smith (26) and Dillon Fletcher (29) last Saturday. The couple were brutally attacked by five men while walking from a local pub to their accommodation in Umzumbe just after midnight. Dillon was stabbed in his left shoulder with the knife slicing his fingers, while Noelene was severely injured with the knife piecing the outer layer of her left lung. Both were admitted to hospital. Lying in a hospital bed, Noelene who was having her lungs drained, shaked uncontrollably when asked about the attack. It was very frightening. People in the area must be warned as it must not happen to anyone else, she uttered. Dillon said they had just left the pub when he noticed shadows running up the road behind them. I told Noelene to run. I stood there, hoping they would attack me and take my stuff. I never expected this to happen, he said. Dillon said two of the men ran to him and without asking for anything just assaulted him. Meanwhile, the other three men chased after Noelene. It was absolutely terrifying, I didnt know what to do, he added. Dillon managed to get onto his feet and run to help Noelene, with his attackers close on his heels. I thought they were trying to kill us, he said. By then Noelene had been stabbed, and the men were seen fleeing with her handbag. Dillon picked Noelene up onto her feet, pushed her towards the entrance of the pub and told her to run. Dillon said the gang then pinned him to the ground, with the youngest of the group on top of him, trying to stab his chest which he kept trying to block. He then faked his death, and he could feel the teenager with the knife slicing away at his belt which had his mission bag attached to it. They fled with his belongings leaving him shirtless and bleeding. I was screaming for Noelene, I didnt know where she was or if she had made it back, he said. Meantime, Noelene, had notified those at the pub. Dillon described it as an aggravated attack and one of violent aggression, as no words were exchanged. He seemed to think it might of been either a gang initiation, a racist attack or a deliberate attack to hurt people. Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid, said a case of robbery had been opened. No arrests had been made, but that police had two drawn identity kits of the men. Noelenes father, Chris Nel is offering a R10 000 reward for anyone with information, contact him at 083 7022057 or Warrant Officer Henry van Vuuren at 082 4592714.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 05:50:20 +0000
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