Horror Attack at South African Nature Reserve Hluleka Makes World News

Murdered Karen Turner, 31, and husband Matthew, 33, who were attack while on holiday in South Africa in their bed on their wedding day in July 2017 cutting the cake

News of a pregnant young mum in South Africa who was stabbed to death in her bed whilst on holiday has made headlines around the world from Australia to the UK, whilst back home some social media users have been asking why this has not made bigger news locally. Karen Turner (31) was asleep at the Hluleka Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape, with her husband Matthew (33) and their toddler son Hayden, when the nightmare took place at 3am on Tuesday morning.

Karen Turner, 31, who was murdered, and husband Matthew, 33, who were attacked while on holiday on the Wild Coast (in South Africa) in their bed, seen here on their wedding day in July 2017. Photos: Facebook/Matthew Turner

The Turners had rented a self-contained holiday chalet overlooking the beach at the Wild Coast reserve, alongside some friends. They were on their way to a wedding, and stopped off for a few days to have a break and celebrate Karen’s 31st birthday the day before the tragedy.

Matthew, who reportedly survived multiple stab wounds to his stomach, told his brother-in-law he saw two knife-wielding intruders – one who attacked Karen, whilst the other attacked him.

He then managed to chase both who fled before they could steal anything.

Murdered Karen Turner, 31, who died with her unborn child, seen here with husband Matthew, 31. They were attacked while on holiday on the Wild Coast, in South Africa. Their son Hayden, seen here in October 2017, is 23-months old.

Karen and Matthew dancing at their wedding in July 2017

Karen and Matthew on their wedding day in July 2017

Police spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena confirmed a 31-year-old woman was murdered in the early hours of Tuesday and that her husband received serious knife wounds to the stomach.

Karen’s older brother Ian Crouch told News24 that he had spoken to his brother-in-law when he came out of life-saving surgery after being airlifted unconscious to Pietermaritzburg Hospital. Matthew is currently in a stable condition in ICU.

Crouch told News24: ”Matthew’s recollection was that he was woken up by being stabbed in the stomach by a guy on his side of the bed and there was another chap stabbing my sister (who was screaming).

“He said he managed to sort of grab the guy and there was a tussle down the stairs” he said.

Crouch flew in a friend’s helicopter to the scene which he described as a “blood bath”, arriving before the police, and said the balcony door was open and the windows on latches as it was a hot night and that is why there was no forced entry.

He confirmed it appeared nothing had been stolen and their mobiles were by their bed.

Timber merchant Crouch also confirmed his sister, who taught as a locum at Underberg Primary School in their home town in KwaZulu-Natal province, was about three months pregnant.

Initial reports in South Africa, with headlines saying “no forced entry”, insinuated there had been a domestic dispute, but the family has strongly denied this, saying that the confusion was caused by presumptions made after their friends next door reported hearing a commotion. But it was the attack they heard and upon banging on the door, Matthew opened it, covered in blood, before collapsing.

Crouch has alleged the resort may be trying to frame Matthew. Crouch told The Witness newspaper: “I saw the staff from the resort all gathered together.

“A woman was talking and said she had been told by ‘Vuyani’ to say there was no staff at the resort after 11pm and no staff before 7am” and that there had been a domestic dispute.

Private Investigator Rick Crouch said: “If media reports that the Hluleka Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast and a person by the name “Vuyani”, coincidentally the same name as the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) CEO Vuyani Dayimani, allegedly attempted to push a narrative that the murder on their property was due to a domestic dispute, they should be boycotted and those involved in pushing the narrative should be charged. It is absolutely disgusting that anyone would do that.”

Karen and Matthew Turner cutting the cake on their wedding day, July 2017

Matthew’s brother-in-law dismissed the speculation saying the attackers “didn’t have time to take anything because (Matthew) chased them out” and said “I am very close to them. We spend a lot of time with them. There is no way that domestic violence is even a possibility.

“I know where the confusion has come in.

“The friend that was staying in a neighbouring chalet reported to the reserve’s employees that he heard a commotion.” He says this was then misinterpreted on social media as being that he heard an “argument” when “he really heard people screaming”.

Crouch also says that when he returned to the scene on Thursday he discovered there had been a break-in to the resort’s offices that same morning… yet nobody had told him.

He told News24: “We were not told this by the police or the resort but both knew about it. Two people staying at the resort during the time of the attack said they had heard the screams coming from Karen and Matt’s chalet and went to look for a phone to get help.” They apparently found one of the office doors opened already and the “place turned upside down”.

Crouch said: “Why is no one talking about this? People at the resort saw the office that had been broken into but nothing was said. Why?”

Nyandeni mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana has apparently offered condolences and said the murder hurt the tourism image of the area.

Ngqondwana reportedly said: “We wish to say that we have always known our tourist destinations as a safe haven and we have statistics that speak to that.

“We wish, at the current stage, to reserve comment and allow SAPS to get to the bottom of the incident.”

The Turners lived in Underberg where they had just bought a home together on the dairy farm that Matthew manages. They had been married in July 2017 and Hayden was born four months later.

Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency CEO Vuyani Dayimani said: “The two guests were booked in from Monday to Thursday and police were called after a stabbing incident…

“As an agency who manage the reserve we are shocked that this has taken place in one of our flagship coastal reserves as the safety and security of our guests is our key priority.”

The vicious attack is making news in the UK just days before Prince Harry is due to fly into South Africa with his wife Meghan and son Archie. UK press mentioned that while Harry is taking his son to visit his “favourite place in the world”, crime stats released this week show that crime in SA has been spiralling out of control with over 21,000 murders and 45,000 rapes carried out last year.

The Herald Live reported that SAPS’ K9 unit dogs and their handlers from Mthatha have been searching the area for the knife (or knives) used in the attack. (According to Crouch, none were found on the scene.)

The post mortem on the pregnant mom has been completed, and her body was transported home yesterday.

Crouch has also revealed in an interview with The Witness that his sister’s last thoughts were for her son, asking Matthew to check if Hayden was okay. Matthew tried to follow the men, he said, “but saw them jump off the balcony. When he turned around, Karen had collapsed.”

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Farm Murder in the Eastern Cape on Thursday Night: Dispatch Live has reported this afternoon that there’s been another murder in the Eastern Cape – near East London. Farmer Shaun Krull (48) was apparently killed on Thursday night after being ambushed at the feedlot. His brother said they suspect the attackers were involved in the recent cattle thieving of their extensive herd of cattle. He had been stabbed and run over by his bakkie. The vehicle has not yet been found. The Dispatch says that according to an unnamed friend “Shaun was born on the farm on which he was killed… The farm is owned by mogul Sisa Ngebulana.”

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