A woman who beheaded a Monifieth grandmother at her home in South Africa has begged the victim’s family for forgiveness.
Sandra Malcolm, 74, was hacked to death by Sheree Prince, 22, who had broken into her Cape Town home.
Mrs Malcolm had been helping the young woman after she suffered an injury – but Prince turned on her, fearing she would call police.
Prince said Mrs Malcolm fed her tea and toast but when she offered to call an ambulance, Prince became suspicious and stabbed her 24 times. Prince beheaded the pensioner with a knife and cut off her arms using an axe before throwing her body into a wheelie bin.
Police arrested Prince in Citrusdal, 100 miles north of Cape Town, a few days after the grandmother’s death in April 2015. She admitted the murder in March and has now written a letter to the family of Mrs Malcolm, who was originally from Monifieth, Angus.
The letter, which was handed to the Western Cape High Court, read: “I thank the court for doing my case. During my time in prison I have had time to think of everything.
“I wouldn’t know who the family is, but I would like the family to please forgive me and accept my apology as time goes by.”
During a hearing on Monday, Prince’s defence lawyer, advocate Leandra Adams, appealed for her client to be shown mercy.
She said: “Since her incarceration my client has not involved herself in any altercations. The accused is convicted of serious crimes and she takes full responsibility for her actions. She did not in any way ever try to mislead the court.”
Prince’s sentencing date has now been postponed until next month.
She was linked to the crime scene via fingerprints, mobile phone records and stolen goods they found at her father’s house. After her first court appearance in 2015, Prince was eventually found fit to stand trial.
Mrs Malcolm’s body was discovered after her grandson reportedly climbed in through a window when she failed to answer the door at her cottage in Lakeside, near Muizenberg, a suburb of the city.
Mrs Malcolm had lived in South Africa for 35 years and is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Prince said she had left her home in Citrusdal in April 2015 because of her ‘poor relationship’ with her mother. She admitted robbing a house then took a taxi to Muizenberg.
During her stay, Prince said she was offered a job as a cleaner at an antique shop but left after kicking over a pot of stew and burning her foot.
She left with a handbag she had stolen, then on April 18 she arrived at Lakeside and climbed in through an open window, waking Mrs Malcolm.
