Cape Town - A Capri resident was shot dead in the driveway of his home on Thursday morning by two unknown men as his wife watched.
Peter Rassloff, 72, had apparently been shot in the head.
About three hours after the killing a number of people, believed to be relatives, could be seen milling around outside the Corfu Avenue house in the upmarket neighbourhood near Fish Hoek.
A number of cars, including police vehicles, lined the road outside the house as two men, believed to be police trackers, scoured an open field opposite the house.
Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said no one had yet been arrested and a murder case had been opened.
Neighbour Trevor Cohen, who had a camera pointed toward the Rassloff home, said it appeared the two men had taken advantage of an open gate and slipped on to the property.
“I have a camera that faces their road, it only operates if there is movement. What it has recorded is at 8.03am there is some movement.”
Cohen said it appeared a white bakkie had left the housing complex next door to the Rassloff home and the driver had stopped to speak to the men.
“He obviously had a word, drove very slowly up the road, obviously very conscious about them. He drove past that open gate and they slipped inside.”
Cohen said it was “very unusual” that the gate had been open. “I can only surmise they took advantage of the open gate.”
He had heard that the two men had come across Rassloff, and his wife Maria, who had asked what they were doing inside. The two men had responded that they were looking for work before shooting Rassloff, Cohen said.
Another neighbour, Tony Carlisle, said neither he nor others he had spoken to had heard gunshots.
“Apparently they shot him in the head, right between the eyes. His wife was standing next to him. They didn’t take anything. They shot him and then they ran.”
Neighbours told the Cape Times Rassloff had put the house on the market recently as the couple were looking to retire and move to a smaller home.
Rassloff was managing member of Peter Rassloff Instruments & Services which manufactured equipment for the milling and cement industries.
Maria Rassloff did not answer her cellphone on Thursday.
* Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
michelle.jones@inl.co.za
Cape Times