Family of slain Phoenix mom and child sought

Family of slain Phoenix mom and child sought

Police are trying to trace the family of a 34-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter, who were murdered on Wednesday.

Phoenix double murder 2
Nushera Soodyal

They were attacked with a bush knife in their Mount Royal home, north of Durban.


The woman's 62-year-old partner was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning. 


Newswatch visited the property on Thursday and was granted access by the landlord. 


A small path leads us behind the main house to a small room that the suspect has been renting. 


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The door is slightly wedged open with a wooden rod. Bloody footprints can be seen leading out of the room. 


There's a pool of blood near the door. The room has been completely turned upside down. 


A brown fluffy teddy bear lies on a bed, whose sheets are spattered with blood.


There's also a packed bag on the bed next to the teddy bear.


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Other bloodied toys are scattered on the floor, along with a tossed yellow kiddies' chair.


It's understood the 62-year-old suspect, who's believed to have been on the run after the attack - returned to the home and tried to open the door. Police were called, and he was arrested.


A neighbour has told Newswatch she heard the terrifying screams of the mother and her daughter and rushed over. 


She says she can't get what she saw out of her head.


The neighbour says the woman had been in a relationship with the suspect for some time. 

Phoenix double murder 1
Nushera Soodyal
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