Thabo Bester | "DNA evidence did not match"

JOHANNESBURG - DNA samples taken from the body found in Thabo Bester's prison cell did not match those of his mother according to the Free State Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane.

She says the person found dead in the cell showed no smoke inhalation in his lungs, suggesting that he was already dead before the fire.

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Motswenyane said, "the report suggested that a cause of that is that of a natural death caused by the blunt force trauma to the head of the victim."

"The report revealed that the charred body was that of an adult male who suffered a skull rapture. The autopsy also revealed that there was no smoke inhalation in the lungs, therefore the indication was that the deceased was already dead during the fire incident."

"Based on the autopsy report, the case was converted from an inquest to a murder. SAPS also registered the following charges with regards to the incident, fraud, violation of the dead body, aiding and abetting escape of the convicted person and defeating the ends of justice."

"On the 1st of July 2022, the first DNA analysis conducted on the body believed to be that of Thabo Bester and the person known to the investigators as Thabo Bester's mother did not match."