British couple killed, thrown to crocodiles; ISIS-linked trio convicted of spending £37,000 on credit cards World News

Three members of an ISIS-linked gang have been convicted of murdering British botanists Rod and Rachel Saunders and then dumping their bodies into a crocodile-infested river in South Africa, ending more than eight years of cold cases.The High Court in Durban found Sayefundeen Del Vecchio, 44, his wife Bibi Patel, 34, and tenant Mussa Jackson, 40, guilty of double murder, kidnapping, robbery and theft after hearing evidence from about 60 witnesses over 160 court days. According to the Daily Mail.The couple, aged 74 and 63, disappeared in February 2018 while searching for rare gladioli flowers in KwaZulu-Natal.

Rod Saunders and Rachel Saunders are internationally renowned botanists and owners of Cape Town seed company Silverhill Seeds. They regularly travel across South Africa collecting rare plant species and giving lectures on the country’s flora.The court heard the couple traveled around 900 miles from Cape Town and had recently filmed in the Drakensberg Mountains with a BBC documentary team led by presenter Nick Bailey before continuing their adventure into Ngoye Forest National Park.DelVecchio targeted the couple while they were camping in a remote forest, prosecutors said. Phone records show he contacted Patel and Jackson, saying the two were “on a good chase,” and later sent a message saying the victim had been killed.

The court heard the couple were kidnapped and forced to hand over their banking details before being murdered.An autopsy found Rachel Sanders had multiple machete wounds to the back of her head, multiple stab wounds and severe blunt force trauma. Rod Sanders died of severe head trauma.After the killing, the victim was wrapped in a sleeping bag and placed in a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser.The three defendants then drove to the Tugela River Bridge and the body was thrown into the crocodile-infested river in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.When the remains were eventually recovered, they were so damaged by decay and animal predation that investigators needed DNA analysis and dental records to identify the victims.

Investigators tracked the gang who used Rachel Saunders’ credit card and bank account to carry out a spending spree worth around R734,000 (£37,000).The trio purchased Bitcoin and transferred funds from the couple’s accounts before being spotted by a suspicious store employee who notified authorities.Police followed financial leads to the suspect’s home, where they found the victim’s cell phone, jewelry, laptop, camping equipment and a stolen vehicle. Blood later found inside the Toyota Land Cruiser was matched to the couple.

All three defendants are on a terrorist watch list.Members of South Africa’s elite crime force, the Hawks, discovered an Islamic State flag and extremist literature during a raid on their property. Despite alleged ties to Islamic State ideology, prosecutors did not bring terrorism-related charges.WhatsApp messages shown in court were attributed to DelVecchio and referred to the victims as “Coufal” while instructing that their bodies should never be found.Judge Esther Steyn said mobile phone data, DNA evidence, witness statements and circumstantial evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that all three defendants were involved.“The pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly,” the judge said, finding the three men had committed the murder together.Sentencing is scheduled for June 19. Under South African law, the trio could face life imprisonment.