LOUIS TRICHARDT - Shocking allegations of animal-like brutality are contained in a police report about an alleged assault, gang rape and murder which took place on the fringe of the local industrial area in the early hours of Tuesday last week.

The barbaric behaviour of an alleged group of four men left one person killed, a woman traumatised and raped and a man with a stab wound.

In the aftermath of a night of terror, which ended in the middle of town in the municipal gardens, the naked body of a man was found near the railway line close to the eastern end of Jeppe Street in the industrial area. The woman, who was allegedly gang raped repeatedly during the night, was dumped in the municipal park. Three of the suspects are still at large, after police arrested one of them.

According to a police report one of the original group of five men was brutally assaulted and killed after he at first refused to take part in the gang rape. His clothes were removed and he was left at the scene of the crime.

Local police spokesperson, Insp Daniel Ndlovhu this week said a 22-year-old unmarried woman, was the victim of the rapists.

According to a police report the victim was in conversation with a man at the eastern end of Rissik Street, close to the Fire Fly complex, when five men approached and attacked him. He was stabbed in the lower part of his left arm, before he got away and fled. Four of the men gave chase, but he escaped. The fifth member of the group, stayed with her during the chase and was confronted and assaulted by the rest on their return.

According to the report the girl was then grabbed by the leader of the group and dragged into the bushes towards the railway line to the south of Fire Fly. She was then allegedly stripped of her clothes and raped by four of the men. The fifth member, who at first refused to take part, was allegedly instructed to do so and then brutally assaulted for his reluctance. The alleged assault continued until he seemingly lost consciousness. He was then stripped off his clothes and left along the railway line.

The woman was then reportedly first taken in the direction of Madombidzha and then to the centre of town, where she was dumped.

One suspect, a 25-year-old male, was arrested on a murder charge. Police investigations are still proceeding.