Murder of Aircraft Owner

[Graham Speller]

Hope I'm wrong, but this could be Mr JP Marais of Stillbaai, who owns a Baron, ZS-RAM, and a Bantam 22, ZU-DVT.

Anyone have more information?

Small town shocked by murder 09/10/2006 08:28 - (SA)

Stilbaai businessman murdered

Tisha Steyn, Die Burger

Jongensfontein - Residents of this small town near Stilbaai were deeply shocked by the murder of a well-known businessman at the weekend.

Johannes Marais, 56, better known as Basie, was found next to his bakkie on a building site next to his home in Compass Lock in Jongensbaai about 03:00 on Saturday.

"He was apparently hit over the head with a blunt object and seemed to have died at the scene," said police spokesperson captain Malcolm Pojie.

Apparently Marais and his wife Ruby were in bed when the telephone rang at about 01:30. An unknown person informed him that somebody was breaking into the hangar at Stilbaai airfield, where he kept his small aircraft.

[No Fly Now]

Regret that Basie Marais is the same JP Marais to whom you refer.
It now transpires that his wife has been implicated in the murder. He was "called out" in the middle of the night to investigate a supposed break-in at his hangars. Very sad to olose another aviator.