Black Tie owner murdered

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Fuma

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A Pretoria businessman who has been in the garment industry for more than 50 years was brutally murdered in his shop less than 50m away from the Brooklyn police station.

Black Tie owner Marquard Pierre de Villiers, 64, appears to have been stabbed to death at his Hatfield store on Wednesday evening some time after closing.

It is unclear at this stage what the motive for the killing was or how many people were responsible for the crime.

Trading since 1952, Black Tie has its main office in Hatfield - on the corner of Duxbury and Duncan streets - with two other branches in Midrand and the East Rand.

De Villiers' brother, Ladd, said a neighbouring shop owner became concerned when the Black Tie office was still open after closing time.

"She went to check on him some time after 6pm and found his body," he said.

De Villiers' son, Jean-Pierre, was in Ballito at a family holiday home when he received a call from that shop owner explaining that his father had earlier entered the shop with a man.

"She said the front door to the shop was open but was too scared to go in and check on him," he said.

The woman ran to the nearby Brooklyn police station to inform them of what she found.

Jean-Pierre returned at about lunch time yesterday to be with members of his family.

De Villiers' daughter, Leno, who is believed to have shared a home with her divorced father, did not want to speak to the Pretoria News.

Despite a sign at the entrance notifying clients that the store was closed because of a crime scene and apologised for any inconvenience, several people arrived to drop off their rented garments.

"He was an excellent businessman, had good business sense and was reliable. He supplied most of the high schools and the universities in this area with outfits for special functions," said Ladd.

Jean-Pierre said his father was well respected in the local industry.

Ladd was not in a position to comment on the nature of the crime, nor could he say what he thought the motive was.

"He was attacked just after closing time at about 5pm," he said.

The police's forensic team spent more than half an hour on Thursday searching the business premises for clues which could lead to the killer or killers.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Lynnette Erasmus said Brooklyn police were investigating a case of murder.

"The cause of death will be determined by the police forensics unit. No murder weapon was recovered at the scene and it is possible the deceased's cellphone and money was taken," she said.

Erasmus said whoever was responsible for the murder probably did not use a firearm because of the store's close proximity to the police station.

She could not confirm how many suspects were involved in the murder and called on community members who have information to call Crime Stop on 086 001 0111.
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supersunbird

supersunbird

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Hatfield a bit of a dodgy area. All those "car guards" and other random dudes just hanging around...

It's sad.
 
marine1

marine1

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Sorry to hear :( two more hijacking this morning and the cops shot one and arrested him in Wynberg, JHB
 
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Paul_S

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Kind of hits home when it's someone you know. :(
Suddenly it's not just another crime statistic.
I know Jean-Pierre personally and I met his dad at the Hatfield store. He was a real gentleman.
 
M

<moLe>

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thats why when @ hatfield I just stay in aandklas, really the safest place in the square...little or few dodgy people (the rock I think is to overwhelming for a criminal mind to bare)...although one night my girl's purse got nicked from the table we where sitting @
 
M

<moLe>

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its almost safer statistically to be an American soldier in Iraq than to be a South Africa citizen
 
Pitbull

Pitbull

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That was our place back in the 90's.

Morgan's used to be the place. Then you also had some few other clubs around the corner and in the square. But Morgan's was IMBA !
 
M

<moLe>

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the car guards in hatfield are odd.. one guy will tell you he is looking after your car, and when you return someone else will be there to collect your change..seriously doubt if they really give a **** about your cars..which lends me to ask if any car guard ever gives a damn
 
Pitbull

Pitbull

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a Year or so ago there was a story about a car guard in PTA the foiled a car theft by Jumping on the moving Vehicle :eek:
 
Necuno

Necuno

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i guess this is why they are closed when i was there today for groomish-
 
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