Black magic gang murdered elderly British couple and cut up their bodies – now bereft daughter fears killers will strike again
Anthony and Gillian Dinnis, aged 73 and 78, disappeared from their remote South African farm in August 2023 in what is believed to be a "Muti killing" – a black magic ritual where body parts are sold for money and supposed magical power. Their daughter Kate Anderson has now spoken publicly to warn that her parents' alleged killers remain free and pose an ongoing threat to others, particularly tourists visiting the region.
The couple vanished on 27 August 2023 and initially triggered a ransom demand for 2 million rand (£91,000), later reduced to 50,000 rand (£2,300). A gardener was arrested and allegedly confessed to being one of three men involved, claiming they removed the couple's ears and fingers to sell to a witch doctor in Johannesburg, but charges were withdrawn in June 2024 when a magistrate ruled the confession inadmissible and police cited insufficient evidence.
- British pensioners murdered in alleged black magic ritual; killers released when charges withdrawn
- Couple's body parts allegedly sold for cash to witch doctor
- Daughter warns freed suspects may target others, including tourists
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Anthony and Gillian Dinnis, a British couple aged 73 and 78, disappeared from their remote South African farm on 27 August 2023. Investigators believe they were victims of what is known locally as a Muti killing – a ritual murder in which body parts are taken and sold to traditional practitioners for use in spiritual ceremonies, typically in exchange for money.
A gardener employed at the couple's property was arrested and confessed to involvement in their deaths. He claimed he and two associates removed body parts to sell to a practitioner in Johannesburg. However, his confession was ruled inadmissible in court, and charges were withdrawn in June 2024 when police said they lacked sufficient evidence to pursue the case further.
The couple's deaths remain unsolved, with the alleged perpetrators still at large. The unresolved case has brought attention to concerns about such crimes in remote areas of South Africa and their implications for safety.
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The case for
The case presents a compelling argument for justice and public protection. An elderly couple appears to have been murdered; a suspect confessed with detailed knowledge of the crime; yet the suspect remains free after the magistrate ruled the confession inadmissible. For those prioritising justice and public safety, the application of strict evidentiary rules risks allowing dangerous individuals to escape accountability, leaving the victims without justice and the community without protection from potential future harm.
The case against
The legal decision reflects a critical principle of criminal justice: that convictions must rest on properly obtained evidence, not confessions obtained through improper means. The magistrate and authorities followed established law in excluding inadmissible evidence. Prosecuting without such foundation could lead to wrongful conviction of an innocent person. These procedural protections, whilst sometimes frustrating when serious crime appears evident, are essential safeguards that protect everyone against potentially unjust prosecution and ensure justice rests on reliable proof.