Ex-player arrested over axe deaths

A FAMOUS former rugby player has been arrested in South Africa after allegedly butchering at least three people to death with an axe.

A newspaper claimed the unnamed 34-year-old sportsman had launched a murderous rampage in revenge after his daughter was gang-raped and infected with HIV.

Afrikaans daily Beeld reported that one of the star’s alleged victims had been decapitated during a string of brutal attacks which happened last week near Durban in South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province.

It is believed the man’s head was found at least a mile away from his body in a separate suburb of the Indian Ocean city.

Police spokesman Vincent Mdunge told South Africa’s Sowetan newspaper the sportsman was being held in custody after being arrested yesterday.

The star is due to appear in court today to face three charges of murder and one of attempted murder in relation to a fourth alleged victim named Khangelani Mdluli, who managed to escape.

Lieutenant Colonel Mdunge said: ‘‘When they pounced on him they found an axe, which we believe is the murder weapon, clothes with blood stains and a hired car that we suspect he could have used during the alleged attacks.

“He will be charged formally with three counts of murder with aggravating circumstances and one of attempted murder.’’

Under South African law police are not permitted to name a suspect in a crime until they have appeared in court. However officials indicated it was likely the star’s identity could be publicly withheld even after today’s scheduled hearing, in order to protect the dignity of his daughter following speculation she had been raped.