Johannesburg police dismiss ‘gay serial killer’ reports

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Police in Johannesburg, South Africa, say there is no evidence a serial killer is targeting gay men.

According to the Star newspaper, there have been six killings of gay men over the last 18 months which bear similarities.

In the latest case, reported this week, a 47-year-old landlord was found bound and strangled in his Northcliff home. There were empty beer cans on the table and no sign of a break-in.

The paper reported that five of the six victims were found bound and strangled in a private home with no sign of a break-in. One was found strangled and battered to death.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini told Sapa news agency that one person could not have been responsible for the six deaths.

“We are not looking at one specific person… cases are being investigated individually and progress has been made in some,” he said.

Lt Col Dlamini added that one man had already appeared in court over one of the murders, while two men were implicated in another case.