Family reeling after sisters gunned down in Kariega home

Blood-curdling screams, panicked cries and multiple gunshots were the prelude to the brutal murders of two sisters in Kariega at the weekend.

When the police and relatives arrived at the home in Pompano Crescent during the early hours of Sunday, they were met with a horrifying sight.

Theresa Pullen, 32, and her older sister Fredericka Booysen, 46, had been shot dead in their bedroom.

One body was found on the floor and the other was still sprawled on the bed.

Because the women had been shot in the head, family members had to identify them by their clothing.

The walls of the bedroom in the modest two-bedroom house where the incident occurred were pockmarked with bullet holes on Monday morning, and blood stained the floor and mattress.

According to preliminary police reports, Pullen and Booysen were shot dead after intruders kicked down the front door and stormed into the bedroom the women shared with their children.

A close friend, who had been with them at the time, was also shot and is in critical condition in hospital.

The attack occurred at about 2.40am, according to police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg.

Janse van Rensburg said Kamesh police had responded to a complaint of a shooting early on Sunday.

She said the front door of the house had been kicked open by the intruders.

“The [attackers] proceeded to a bedroom where three females were present and opened fire.”

Janse van Rensburg said police were investigating two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

She said the motive was not known at this stage.

The murder victims’ distraught sister, Janine Pullen, said the children had been in a state, screaming and crying.

Adding to her grief, she was still mourning the recent death of her mother.

“Just last month, we buried our mother — and now this,” she said.

“The three of us were so close. I still can’t believe they were taken from me in this way.”

She described the women as gentle, close-knit and kind.

Her voice cracked as she spoke about the trauma of identifying the bodies.

“It was barbaric. I had to go to identify them,” she said through tears.

“Their faces were ruined. I could only tell it was them by the clothes they had on.

“It was awful to see. My eldest sister was still lying on the bed. The youngest was on the floor. It was so cruel.”

Booysen was a mother of two — a 12-year-old and a 22-year-old.

Pullen leaves behind two sons, aged nine and 12.

“They were both devoted mothers,” Janine said.

“Everything they did was for their kids.

“And now the children have to live with what they saw. How do you even begin to explain something like this to a child?”

She said the trauma had shaken the entire family.

Brother-in-law George Peters said they were struggling to make sense of it all.

“I cleaned the room yesterday [Sunday],” he said.

Behind him, buckets of water stood in the kitchen.

“There was blood everywhere. I’m trying to stay strong for my wife and the rest of the family but we’re living in fear now.”

Peters said there had been no sign of trouble before the attack.

“They were just at home. This came out of nowhere. It makes no sense.”

Neighbours said they were awoken by the screams and the sound of gunshots, followed by silence.

“It happened so fast. The children were crying ... there was a lot of commotion followed by gunshots,” one neighbour said.

Janse van Rensburg urged anyone with information that might assist police in the investigation to come forward.

“We just want justice,” Janine said.

“We want answers. We want to know why. Someone must know something. They can’t just be gone like this — for nothing.”

The double murder comes less than a month before the start of Women’s Month.

Just over a week ago, the burnt body of a young girl was found in thick bushes near Khabonqaba Street in Motherwell.

Lithaliyanda Ntoni was only 12 years old.

Her brother-in-law has since been arrested.

Her death followed the horrific discovery of the burnt bodies of two teenage girls, Sinothando Malinga, 19, and Ibanathi Peter, 17, in KwaNobuhle on June 18.

Four people have been arrested in connection with their murders.

The Herald