A DAD charged with the murder of his wife and two children has appeared in court in South Africa for an unlicenced gun after he fled the UK.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were discovered at their £1.3million home in Great Denham, , last Monday.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Natalie and Nala were found dead at their £1.3million home Credit: PA
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who also goes by the name Mark, appeared in a South African court on Monday Credit: Reuters
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma – who also goes by the name Mark – has appeared at Johannesburg magistrates’ court today after he fled the country two days before their bodies were discovered.
The 45-year-old has been remanded in custody until July 22 as authorities work to establish whether he is in the country legally.
He has been charged in with illegal possession of a firearm which carries a potential 15-year sentence for first-time offenders while the court will also consider whether he should be extradited to the UK.
Meanwhile, British prosecutors have authorised police to charge Tshuma with three counts of murder.
Cops launched an urgent manhunt after the grim discovery last Monday Credit: PA
Tshuma following his arrest in Johannesburg Credit: Sky News
South African police said that Tshuma left Britain via Heathrow Airport before the bodies were discovered.
Spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe told reporters: “According to our , after landing in South Africa on July 5, he then went to one of the townships and he bought this particular unlicensed firearm
“It is our suspicion that this … firearm was going to be used to end his life.”
Mathe added that South Africa had received a provisional extradition request from the UK but was waiting for a full document.
She added that Tshuma had family in South Africa who helped police apprehend him.
“His family did not harbour him … They played a very pivotal role,” Mathe said.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were discovered at their home last Monday – Tshuma was arrested in Johannesburg on Friday.
Shortly afterwards the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK said it had authorised charges against the 45-year-old.
Emma Davies, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said the charges come after “the careful review of evidence provided by Bedfordshire Police”.
Tshuma, an IT consultant, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, left the UK two days before the bodies were discovered.
Police swarmed the luxury £1.3million home in in Great Denham Credit: PA
Flowers outside the family home on Carnoustie Drive Credit: PA
Cops launched an urgent manhunt after the grim discovery and Interpol issued a red notice for Tshuma’s arrest.
It is understood he fled to Dubai from Heathrow Airport before taking a second flight to Johannesburg.
He then travelled to his native Zimbabwe but returned to South Africa shortly afterwards where he was detained by cops.
South African Police Service National Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said authorities were able to track him down in “a matter of hours”.
The manhunt for Tshuma lasted five days, with his wife’s family turning to a private investigation company in Zimbabwe’s capital to locate him.
It comes after described their “heartbreak”.
One resident, who asked not to be named, told The Sun: “What has happened is utterly heartbreaking.
“I didn’t know the family very well but they seemed to have it all – two beautiful girls, great jobs and a lovely big house with a swimming pool.
Friends of the family said Tshuma was acting like his typical “lovely” self when he was seen at his daughter’s sports day just hours before his family were found dead.
Both girls attended private in the local area, with Natalie at Bedford Girls School, which costs £20,000-a-year, and Nala went to Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School.
The couple had recently had their four-bedroom, four-bathroom property valued to be put up for sale.
The senior IT executive earned £100,000 as Head of Development and Support at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in and (ICAEW).
A family spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life, a young beautiful family that has needlessly lost their lives and future.
“We are all grappling to make sense of this tragedy, I don’t know if it will ever be possible for us to find closure.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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