Gang convicted after murdering British couple and feeding their bodies to crocodiles
A gang linked to ISIS, who brutally kidnapped and tortured renowned botanists Rod and Rachel Saunders, have been convicted of murder.
The British couple had been married for 30 years when they were murdered by gang ringleader Sayefundeen Del Vecchio, 44, while on an expedition in the oNgoye Forest in 2018.
Rod, 74, and Rachel, 63, had been searching for rare seeds in a forest in the KwaZulu-Natal province when they went missing.
This wasn’t long after being filmed by the BBC for the Gardeners’ World programme, with their last contact from the forest being on 8 February.
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According to court documents, the husband and wife from Cape Town were ambushed and beaten to death near the forest.
Italian born Del Vecchio ambushed them and forced the pair to reveal banking information and credit card PIN numbers.
Rachel suffered multiple machete wounds and stab injuries, while both victims sustained severe blunt-force trauma.
After killing them, the gang wrapped their bodies in sleeping bags and transported them in the couple’s stolen Toyota Land Cruiser.
The bodies were later thrown from Tugela River Bridge into waters inhabited by Nile crocodiles.
Although animal predation and decomposition made identification difficult, forensic experts eventually confirmed their identities using DNA and dental records.
Over a two-day period, they spent approximately £37,000 using Rachel Saunders’ credit card, purchased Bitcoin, and transferred money from the couple’s accounts.
After a lengthy trial involving around 160 court days and testimony from 60 witnesses, Judge Esther Steyn found Del Vecchio, his wife Bibi Patel, and lodger Mussa Jackson guilty of double murder, kidnapping, robbery, and theft.
According to News24, Judge Steyn, of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, said during her ruling on Tuesday: “The state has relied as well on circumstantial evidence but the court is satisfied that the pieces of the puzzle presented fitted together perfectly.
“Bit by bit the evidence formed a mosaic. The court is satisfied that all three accused acted together in the killing of the deceased.
“This was a meticulously orchestrated plan with a level of sophistication.”
Judge Steyn said DNA evidence and cellphone date and phone usage had linked all three 'without doubt' to the murders.
A Saunders family spokesman said: “Still after so many years the incident itself and the aftermath causes distress to the family.
“It was an awful incident and we do not want to dwell on the event as it was dealt with in detail at the trial.”
Sentencing proceedings are scheduled for 19 June.
Anish Vij