The Durban High Court has found three individuals guilty of the kidnapping, robbery, and murder of Rod and Rachel Saunders, British nationals and horticultural experts.

德班高等法院已裁定三名人士在綁架、搶劫及謀殺英國國民兼園藝專家 Rod 和 Rachel Saunders 的案件中罪名成立。

The victims, proprietors of Silverhill Seeds, were targeted in February 2018 during a botanical expedition in the Ngoye Forest National Park. Evidence presented during the trial indicates that Sayefundeen Del Vecchio identified the couple as targets, subsequently coordinating with his wife, Bibi Patel, and their lodger, Mussa Jackson. The court established that the victims were subjected to torture to facilitate the unauthorized acquisition of banking credentials and credit card PINs. Post-mortem analyses confirmed that Rachel Saunders succumbed to multiple machete wounds and blunt-force trauma, while Rod Saunders died from extensive cranial injuries.

受害者為 Silverhill Seeds 的經營者，於 2018 年 2 月在 Ngoye Forest 國家公園進行植物考察期間被盯上。審理期間提交的證據顯示，Sayefundeen Del Vecchio 將這對夫婦視為目標，隨後與其妻子 Bibi Patel 及他們的房客 Mussa Jackson 協調行動。法院確定受害者遭到折磨，以便非法獲取銀行帳戶資料及信用卡 PIN 碼。驗屍分析證實 Rachel Saunders 死於多處砍刀傷及鈍力創傷，而 Rod Saunders 則死於嚴重頭部創傷。

Following the homicides, the perpetrators transported the deceased in sleeping bags via a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser to the Tugela River Bridge, where the remains were deposited into the river. Due to advanced decomposition and predation by Nile crocodiles, identification required the application of DNA analysis and forensic odontology. The subsequent apprehension of the suspects was precipitated by a financial trail; the trio engaged in a spending spree totaling approximately R734,000, including the acquisition of Bitcoin, which alerted a retail employee and subsequent law enforcement intervention.

在殺害被害人後，犯罪者使用睡袋將死者裝載，駕駛一輛偷來的 Toyota Land Cruiser 前往 Tugela River 橋，將遺體棄於河中。由於屍體高度腐敗且遭到尼羅河鱷魚捕食，身分確認需應用 DNA 分析及法醫牙科鑑定。隨後嫌疑人的被捕是由財務線索引起的；三人合計瘋狂消費約 734,000 蘭特，包括購買比特幣，這引起了一名零售店員工的注意，隨後執法部門介入。

Institutional investigations by the Hawks revealed the presence of ISIS-affiliated iconography and literature at the suspects' residence. Although the defendants were listed on terrorist watchlists and utilized extremist terminology in communications—specifically referring to the victims as 'kuffar'—the prosecution did not pursue terrorism-specific charges. Judge Esther Steyn determined that the convergence of digital forensics, DNA evidence, and witness testimony established a cohesive narrative of joint criminal enterprise.

由 Hawks 進行的機構調查揭露，嫌疑人住所內存在與 ISIS 相關的圖標及文獻。雖然被告被列入恐怖分子監視名單，且在溝通中使用極端主義術語——特別將受害者稱為「kuffar」——但檢方並未提起恐怖主義特定指控。Esther Steyn 法官認定，數位鑑識、DNA 證據與證人證詞的結合，構成了共同犯罪計畫的完整敘述。

The defendants have been convicted of double murder, kidnapping, robbery, and theft, with sentencing scheduled for June 19, where they face mandatory life imprisonment.

被告被裁定雙重謀殺、綁架、搶劫及盜竊罪名成立，判刑定於 6 月 19 日，他們將面臨強制終身監禁。