Gran murdered for bicycle

A DEVASTATED Port Elizabeth pensioner told yesterday how his wife of 46 years was murdered for her bicycle in Redhouse village.

Nancy Norton, 82, was found half naked at 6.30pm on Monday in bushes near the Redhouse golf course.

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said she had been stabbed in the neck.

Her bicycle was missing and her three loyal mixed-breed dogs were found waiting at her side.

Speaking from his Redhouse home last night, Michael Norton, 72, said his wife had gone out on her bicycle to exercise her dogs at about 5pm.

“I got frightened when she wasn’t home by 5.30pm because that’s the time she would normally be back.

“I got into my car and checked around the village but I couldn’t find her.

“Then at about 6pm, I went to Nick van Deventer, who lives in the neighbourhood, and alerted him. He went to look for her and found her body near the bushes at the edge of the village.”

Norton added: “The dogs wouldn’t leave the body.”

Nancy’s daughter, Lucy, said her mother, who had once backpacked in Europe, had “led an adventurous life”.

Shocked neighbours described the murder as “heinous”.

“I feel that thugs are targeting the elderly in this village because they can’t protect themselves,” said Debbie, who did not want to give her surname. “There are lots of old people living in this neighbourhood. That’s why all these criminals are coming here.”

“We seriously need to do something about security in the area as this was the second attack on an elderly person in the village this year,” she said.

Beetge said: “We have opened a case of murder. However, there are no suspects as yet. Anyone with information should contact detectives at the Swartkops police station.”

Nancy is survived by her husband, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.